DAIRY PAYMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23083, 7 July 1938, Page 15

DAIRY PAYMENTS

THE EXTRA £BOO,OOO "POLITICAL EXPEDIENCY" CRITICISM OF THE SYSTEM [BT TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, AVednesday The distribution to be made to dairy farmers from this season's surplus in the Dairy Industry Account was referred to by Mr. fl. G. Dickie (Opposition— Pntea) during the Address-in-Iveply debate in the House of .Representatives to-day. "Financial stability, lie said, "had been sacrificed to I'oli tica 1 exped ioncy.'' Mr. Dickie said it would bo interesting to know how many times the Minister of Marketing, the Hon. W. Nash, had said that no bonus would be paid to dairy farmers, but that high prices in one year would offset low prices in another, and thereby ensure stability. When prices wero fixed last year the Minister said he would not be surprised if there was a deficit of £2,000.000 at the end of the season. In spite of that estimate the Minister would still have a surplus after ho had paid out an extra £BOO,OOO. The Farmers' Extra Costs

This distribution, we are told, must not be called a bonus," Mr. Dickie continued, "but a sum of money given to the farmer to compensate him for his increased costs. When there was a deficit last year the farmers' costs wero just the same as they are now, but on that occasion there was no recognition of the fact. Had there been a deficit this year the farmers' extra costs would not have been taken into account."

When the Primary Products Marketing Bill was before the House, Mr. Dickie said, members of the Opposition had urged that the producers concerned should be allowed a free vote on the guaranteed price scheme, but that had been denied them. "We have been told by the member for Marsden. .Air. J. G. Barclay, that had a vote been taken 90 per cent of the farmers would have voted for the scheme," added Mr. Dickie. "It is interesting to note that a vote of the producers was taken on the proposed bobby calf pool and that out of 7222 suppliers to dairy factories in Taranaki only about 200 voted in favour of the scheme. "Tired of Regimentation" "If that is not a case against the u Marketing, I do not know what is. In my opinion the scheme had a considerable amount of merit, but the result of voting shows that farmers are sick and tired of regimentation bv the State." I?ising to a point of order at the conclusion of Mr. Dickie's speech, Mr. Barclay denied that he had ever said if a referendum had been taken 90 per cent of the farmers would have voted for the guaranteed price scheme. Mr. W. ,J. Poison (Opposition— Stratford ): You knew better.

THE RAILWAY SERVICE DEFENCE OF THE STAFF REPLY TO MR. W. P. ENDEAN [BT TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPOHTER] WELLINGTON, Wednesday A defence of the railway emploj'ees of New Zealand against charges recently levelled at them by Mr. W. P. Endean (Opposition—Parnell) was made by Mr. A. F. Moncur (Government—Rotorua) during the Address-in-Reply debate in the House of Representatives to-day. Mr. Endean had made the accusa-

tion that there was a lack of discipline in the railways staff, said Mr. Moncur, and had stated that recent accidents had been due to this cause. It was becoming a habit of Opposition members to make wild and irresponsible charges. "1 should think that the only knowledge which the member for Parnell possesses with regard to railways is confined to the four walls of a sleeping berth," Mr. Moncur said. "I would advise him to get up early one morning and ride in the cab of a K engine from Taumarunui to Auckland through the fofj. I am sure the Minister would give him permission to make the trip and he would then appreciate the great responsibility placed on our railway employees." The Railway Department was still endeavouring to make up the ground lost under the administration of tho Railways Board, continued Mr. Moncur, who quoted instances to support this contention. It was true that tlie 40-hour week and the restoration of wages had increased the running expenses of the railways, Mr. Moncur added, but tho system was being carried on in a wonderful fashion, and it was surprising! that the men responsible for such a national service should have been the subject of an unwarranted and un'justified attack. OATH OF ALLEGIANCE THE DECLARATION METHOD "PURELY PERSONAL QUESTION" [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Wednesday Strong criticism of the action of Sir Alfred Ransom (Opposition—Pahiatua) in drawing attention at a meeting at Woodvillo to the fact that 19 Labour members of the House of Representatives and tho Legislative Council had preferred to take the oath of allegiance by declaration rather than on tho Bible was expressed by Mr. J. Hodgens (Government —Palmerston North) during the Address-in-Reply debate in the Hoi.se of Representatives to-day. Tho question was purely personal, Mr. Hodgens contended, and it was not too much to expect that there should be , freedom in such matters. "I do not know the history of the decision of the Parliaments of the Empire that there should be two methods," said Mr. Hodgens, "but provision is made for alternative declarations and I understand that it is tho result of many years of agitation for an alternative method for those who feel that owing to religious convictions they cannot take the oath by .swearing. 1 am one of tho members of this House who took tho oath by declaration. "On the Government benches there are men of all shades of opinion in spiritual matters," Mr. Hodgens added, "but must I make a declaration in this House that 1 am a member of a Christian faith? I am an active member of the Catholic faith and I do my best to live up to its precepts, but would members of the Opposition suggest that 1 did wrong because I did not take the-oath on those lines?"

ALSATIAN DOG BILL []lY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Wednesday The Alsatian Dog Bill was introduced in the Legislative Council to-day by the Hon. C. J. Carrington (Auckland). The bill was read a first time.