COUNTRY QUOTA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23166, 12 October 1938, Page 17

COUNTRY QUOTA

PLAIN "YES" OR "NO"

REQUEST TO MR. NASH

GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION INDEFINITE REPLY [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION"] PALMERSTON NORTH, Tuesday A request for a plain "Yes" or "No" as the answer to the question, "Will the country quota be disturbed if the Labour Party is returned to power," was made to the Minister of Finance, the Hon. W. Nash, at Rongotea. The Minister said: "There is quite a good case to be made out with some of the electorates in fairly large areas where representatives have trouble in getting round them- The Labour Party will not let anything be done that will stop full representation of the country electorates." A question was asked whether Mr. Nash could give an assurance that if the Labour Party was returned there would be an election in three years; also would he give an assurance that the country quota would not be disturbed? The questioner asked the Minister to be quite definite and clear in his reply. The Minister: We will not extend our life beyond the period for which we are elected. Large Electorates A Voice: You won't get the chance. The Minister: We will let the people do that. We will stay in Parliament for three years. "With regard to the country quota, that is a question being freely asked by supporters of the National Party," continued Mr. Nash. "There is quite a good case that can be made out with some of the electorates in fairly large areas, as their representatives have trouble in getting round them. That can bo made out with this form of representation in these areas, anyway." The Minister (to the questioner): What is the country quota? The Questioner: I do not know the exact figure at which it stands now, but we are quite satisfied with it as it is. I am not the one to be cross-examined. I asked for a full and complete answer. Mr. Nash: Your question is like this one—have you left off beating your wife, yes or no? "No Kind of Answer" Uproar in all parts of tho hall drowned further remarks being heard. Boos, calls of "Answer the question, yes or no," were freely hurled at the stage. The Minister: He wants me to tell him what the country quota is. The country quota suggests that 72 men in the country are equal to 100 in the town.

A Voice: They are in the country where everything comes from. "The Minister: It concerns the man that makes the plough just as much as the man who drives it. A Voice: That is no kind of answer.

Mr. Nash: I am telling them the difference between representation of the country and tho town. The Labour Government will not let anything be done that will stop full representation of the country electorates. At the conclusion of Mr. Nash's address a rote of thanks and confidence was proposed, also an amendment of thanks and no confidence. The amendment was not accepted on the ground that it was a direct negative to the motion. The latter met with considerable opposition and no declaration was made by the chairman as to the result when the issue was put to. the meeting.

MATTER NOT IMPORTANT MR. P. FRASER'S STATEMENT [by telegraph—PßESS assoqiation] MARTON, Tuesday In the course of a long address in the Civic Theatre last night, the Minister of Education, the Hon. P. Fraser, who was accorded a quiet hearing, referred to the issues raised by the Nationalists concerning the country quota and social security taxation. "You can say safely the matter has never been discussed simply because it was never contemplated, and the Labour Party attaches no importance to it whatsoever," he said when asked whether the Government intended to abolish the country quota. " I doubt whether it would make any material difference to the present proportion of representation." Mr. Fraser declared that statements by Mr. S. G. Smith and the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates to the effect that the benefits of social security would be subject to tax were "either deliberate misrepresentation or they don't understand the legislation." The Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage and the Hon. W. Nash had given a definite assurance, and that was final.