SOCIALISTIC PROGRAMME

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 26 May 1936, Page 7

SOCIALISTIC PROGRAMME

DRASTIC EXTENSION PREDICTED MR POLSON’S STATEMENT (United Press Association) HAMILTON, 25th May. A drastic extension of the Labour Government’s socialistic programme was predicted by Mr W. J. Poison. M.P., president of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, when addressing primary producers at Morrinsville today. He contended that by next year the Government would have brought meat and wool under its guaranteed prices scheme, and would have put into effect its declared intention of socialism of the ownership of land throughout the country. Mr Poison also said arrangements made between the union and the Government in regard to farm labour were better than the farmer would actually get, as ! since the scheme had been devised the price of farm labour had material- j ly risen. With 16s being paid for! Public Works employees no farmer would be able to get men at the rate that had been arranged. It was to have been on a sliding scale according to the price of butter-fat. There was to be no question of hours, but the Government considered that additional compensation should be afforded workers by the provision of extra holidays. A motion was carried by the meeting approving the views expressed by Mr Poison. “ALL HUMBUG” MR POLSON AND GUARANTEED PRICES MEAT AND WOOL (By Telegraph—Press Association) HAMILTON, This Day. “It is all humbug and no one knows it better than Mr Poison himself,” declared the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage (Prime Minister) in an interview this morning, when the statements of Mr Poison (president of the Farmers’ Union) that meat and wool were to come under the guaranteed price scheme within two years, were referred to him. Mr Savage said that meat and wool were doing all right, and there was no need to worry about them. If they should get into difficulties, then it would be time for the Government to act. The Premier added that Mr Poison’s suggestion of land nationalisation was absurd.

Mr Savage, who is in Hamilton to open the Waikato Winter Show, attended a reception by the Hamilton branch of the Labour Party this morning.