Licence Statement ‘Red Herring’

Northern Advocate, 12 March 1948, Page 5

Licence Statement ‘Red Herring’

WELLINGTON, Fri. <P.A.)—“Not only did I ’purport to speak’ on behalf of the action committee of the Federated Farmers, but I also spoke in reference to the 1948 import lists." said Mr R. G. Buckleton. chairman of the committee, replying today to comments by the acting-Minister of Customs (Mr Nordmeyer). Mr Buckleton said the action committee operated under the instructions of the Dominion conference of the Federated Farmers, and, as the properly appointed and accredited chairman of the committee, he was a coopted member of the Dominion council of the organisation. Referring to the Minister's remark that farmers did not live by tractors alone, Mr Buckleton said it had been made plain in his statement that the farmers shared with other sections of <ho community from the general imports. FARMERS WORST OFF “The Minister is merely drawing a red herring across the trail, for his Government has taken the responsibility of having fostered a number of comparatively worthless secondary Industries. which consume large quantities of imported raw materials," Mr Buckleton said. "They also absorb many workers, who would be far better employed in essential and worthwhile industries, such as woollen mills.” The Minister ignored tire point that the farming industry, which produced almost the whole of New Zealand’s export income, was shorter of its basic requirements than any other industry in the country.

(MINISTER’S STATEMENT: PAGE 2.)