RULE IN DOMINION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23046, 25 May 1938, Page 12

RULE IN DOMINION

LABOUB GOVERNMENT * - - ■ V ELECTION NOT FEARED 1| MR. LEE MARTIN CONFIDENT [from OUR OWN CORRESPOND EXT ] " MELBOURNE, May 19 Keen interest is being taken in Australia, and particularly in Victoria, in the experimental legislation of the sew Zealand Labour Government, and the visit to the State this \reek of the New Zealand. Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Lee Martin, has presented a firsthand opportunity for inquiry. Mr. Martin told an interviewer that the Labour Government did not fear the approaching general, election, nor did it fear a breakdown of its guaranteed price system in any period of depressed export prices. The Government would go to the electors in November, confidently claiming credit for improved economic conditions. Not much significance could be attached to the results of the recent municipal elections, in which Labour had sustained some setbacks, because local politics wero tending to become separated from national party politics. New Zealand need not be absolutely dependent on overseas markets, said Mr. Martin. The Government held that New Zealand's standard of living should not be harnessed to the standards of other countries over which it had no control. Untrammelled by a State system, such as that in operation in Australia, New Zealand could' work out its internal economy on an independent basis —through guaranteed j>rices, for example. By that method the Government assured to the producer a return over every month in the year so that he could budget without being dependent on the vagaries of an outside market.

Guaranteed Price Defended if a vote were taken, the great majority of New Zealand farmers would declare themselves against a return to the "Rafferty's rules" which existed before the guaranteed price system had been introduced. Perhaps every producer was not completely satisfied with the system, but all recognised that it had given them stability. As an indication of what the system could achieve during a period of comparatively low prices, Mr. Martin quoted last year's experience, when dairy farmers were paid £380,000 more than they would have received on the London market. The Government was prepared to extend the system to othei primary industries "as and when required." Referring to recent strikes, Mr Martin said that there had been loss industrial disturbance in New Zealand since the Labour Government had been in office. The 40-hour week was working satisfactorily, although its adjustment to some manufacturing industries tp quired time. Quality of Hew Zealand Sheep Mr. Martin came to Melbourne aftei attendiug a conference at Canberra oi State Ministers and Directors of Agri culture. Mr. Martin said that he was the first New Zealand Minister of Agriculture who Jiad officially visited Australia, and he felt that the presence, of himself and Mr. A. H. Cockayne at the conference was an important step toward better understanding between Australia and New Zealand. One probable outcome of the conference would be a stricter supervision of the quality of sheep exported from New Zealand to Australia. He hoped that arrangements could be made for an exchange of visits by field officers from the various departments of agriculture. Mr. Martin and Mr. Cockayne are now visiting South Australia, which recently has been importing stud sheep from New Zealand in considerable numbers. The tour will also enable Mr. Martin to see the pastoral country of the western district of Victoria.