REPLY TO CRITICS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24850, 23 March 1944, Page 6

REPLY TO CRITICS

OASE FOE GOVERNMENT MR. FRASER'S CONTENTIONS (S.K.) WELLINGTON. Wednesday There had boon criticism of the Governme at in the press because Ministers had been silent and did not speak earlier in the session, said the Prime Minister, the Rt, Hon. P. Fraser, in the Finance Hill debate in the House of Representatives to-night. It would be a deplorable waste of time if Ministers talked simply for the sake of talking. When he discussed the matter with his colleagues they said they were waiting for some worthwhile criticism to reply to. Now was the time, on the Finance J3i 11 for such criticism and it was in the interests of the country for frank criticism to be made. Voting by the Forces It had been stated that the Government was a minority one, said Mr. Fraser, and various reasons had been put forward as to why the men of the forces voted in a majority for Labour. The real reason, he suggested, was that these men had had the opportunity of seeing other countries and comparing them with the state of affairs in this country. They realised from these comparisons that New Zealand led the way in social improvement and regeneration. "The cry that this Government is a minority Government is quite untenable," continued the Prime Minister after analysing the general election figures. The Government had, with one exception, a higher proportion of votes than any Government that preceded it. The Government did not feel the least bit handicapped, but considered it a splendid achievement to be returned in the way it had after eight years of office, four years of which were war years.

Prices for Production One of the National Party proposals was that the producers should be allowed to determine the prices they received for their produce, said Mr. Eraser. Were miners t-o be allowed to determine the price paid them for the production of coal, or workers in factories and other industries to say what they'should be paid? If that were done, he continued, it would not be socialism, but syndicalism and if allowed to go unchecked would run to anarchy.

Rationing Difficulties The difficulties and sacrifices imposed on the people by the rationing of meat and other commodities were mentioned by Mr. Eraser. He said he realised the disorganisation that was created to trade and that butchers and others would suffer through being plunged into difficulties.

"When I think of the bombs falling on our kith and kin in Britain and the people there rising from the ruins of their homes to search for their loved ones and also think of our lads in Italy scaling the heights at Cnssino I simply cannot compare the sacrifices involved," continued the Prime Minister. "My advice to the people complaining about rationing is to acquit themselves like men, realising that if it were not for the people of Britain to help whom rationing was introduced here, there' would be no business, no homes and no liberty left for the people of New Zealand."

WARTIME RACING SPORT TO CONTINUE PROBLEMS OF TRANSPORT "We cannot allow, and we have no intention of allowing, racing to be discontinued and so smash up the industry," said the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry, in an interview with the Labour paper, the Standard, when discussing horse racing in relation to the shortage of all kinds of transport fuel. The importance of horse-breeding was too great and there was too much involved, he added. Mr. Pa rry paid a tribute to the Racing and Trotting Conferences for their co-operation in attempting to solve difficulties brought about by the shortage of fuel. The conferences had been of great assistance, especially in view of the opinion held by many people that racing should bo stopped at the present time. "After the closest investigation, it is obvious to me that to implement such a suggestion would be both unwise and unfair," said Mr. Parry. "Hundreds of thousands of pounds have been invested in stud farms, breeding stock and horses actually racing, vfhile the majority of people engaged in these pursuits are either unfit for war service or are allowed a day off to engage in them. "It has not been found practicable to centralise racing completely, and no clubs will be allowed to run anywhere but on their own courses," he added. "The majority of clubs still have decided to carry on with their programmes, but any permits which may be forfeited will be utilised for patriotic meetings in centres where sufficient horses are trained to enable a meeting to be held with a minimum of outside patronage." While there was no intention of discontinuing racing. Mr. Parry said clubs must budget for reduced totalisator returns. If - they were prepared to do that, there was no reason, other than transport restrictions, why racing should not continuo and be successful.

WEST COAST SILTING FISHERMEN'S OBSERVATIONS LARGE DEPOSITS OF SAND (0.r.) OREY.MOUTH, Wednesday Jll view of the silting of West Coast harbours in the past few months, the observations of Hokitika fishermen relating to the transformation of the seabed off-shore south of Hokitika are of interest. About this time last year three fishermen reported that three or lour miles off Ruatapu, which is about seven mile.s south of Hokitika, there was between 25 and .')() fathoms of water over nil area of four miles ou which they landed prolific groper supplies of 100 and more each daily. This bed has now been reduced to as low in depth as nine fathoms without any apparent explanation. The harbourmaster at Hokitika, .Mr. (!. Howe, said that at first lie was inclined to disbelieve that such a sudden transformation could have been brought about other than by means of an upfhrust, such as would be caused by an earthquake, but actual tests in line fishing for groper by these fishermen confirmed the fact. Two miles to the north of the area referred to it is stated that the sea floor again drops to its former depth of 2j fathoms, hut as far as the south is concerned there is no recent knowledge of existing dent lis. I'he drift from the south has been a source of trouble to West Coast bar harbours over a period of many years, but, strangely enough, the Hokitika Harbour has been open more regularly than for several years. Huge spits which in the past have formed on the south tiphead and extended several hundred feet seaward are now practically non-existent, while there has been a heavy encroachment of the sea on the north beach at the back of the township. Huge deposits of sand have been heaped up at the former mouth of the Teremakair" River, which now runs out ahout a quarter of a mile further south after running in a parallel line with the seashore. There are also heavy deposits running right along the foreshore to Grey mouth.

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