Political Paragraphs

Northern Advocate, 29 October 1949, Page 7

Political Paragraphs

Farms For Civilians

Will He Get Chance P What Can You Expect ?

There were a number of things which Mr' Holland proposed to do “if he got the chance”, said the Minister of Finance (Mr Nash) at Dunedin last night, but he did not think he Would get the chance. Under Labour the Dominion had never been so prosperous. There was full employment, incomes were greater than ever before, real wages were 27 per cent greater than in 1935, production was up 89 per cent, and the sick, young and aged were cared for. The Danish Way

In its parliamentary election campaigns New Zealand could well consider emulating the system seen in operation in Denmark prior to World War 11, commented Mr E. R. Bird, when presiding at the Awanui meeting conducted by Mr W. E. Lane, Labour candidate for Hobson.' 7n one Danish campaign five candidates toured the electorate together, shared the same meetings and the order of speech, proceedings being conducted in a spirit of tolerance and goodwill shared by candidates and electors alike. “That is true democracy,” Mr Bird observed. 'Link Dromes'

Whenuapai and Hobsonville could be connected to provide Auckland’s international airport, thus saving the Dominion and district several million pounds, suggested Mr R. Tapper (formerly of Whangarei), National Party candidate for Waitakere, last night. The Prime Minister had said that the construction of an airport at Mangere was going to be proceeded with, said Mr Tapper. He understood that the estimated cost was £3,000,000, but in line with most other things, it could safely be said that it would run into £4,000,000 or £5,Q00,000.

“What can you expect when a mere handful of Government members are practical farmers and many of the others are ex-trade union secretaries who have read a lot about primary production, but know nothing of its practical methods? They do not understand the mentality of the farmer.” Mr .1. N. Massey, National Party candidate for Franklin, said this in opening his campaign last night. He complained that the Government had withheld something approaching £100,000,000 from the primary industries and had lent this monev at 1 per cent to other people. Yet, when farmers asked for* advances to build rural houses they were called on to pay 3J per cent under the Rural Housing Act, or 44 per cent from the State Advances Corporation.

“All land which has been compulsorily acquired under the Servicemen’s Settlement and Land Sales Act for the settlement of ex-servicemen will be required for that purpose, and there is no question of it being used for the settlement of civilian farmers later,” said the Minister of Lands (Mr Skinner) at Westport. “Some years ago I gave an assurance that the compulsory clauses of the act would be used only to acquire land for the settling of ex-servicemen, and that policy still stands. “As soon as the needs of rehabilitation have been largely met, the experience and organisation of the Lands Department will be used to develop land not settled by ex-servicemen for the setlement Of young civilian farmers under much the same conditions as the present rehabilitation scheme.”