MR RANSOM’S OPTIMISM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21146, 2 October 1930, Page 3

MR RANSOM’S OPTIMISM

NEW ZEALAND’S DIFFICULTIES. SIR 0. NIEMEYER’S VIEW. (Special to' Daily Times.) WELLINGTON, October 1. A euggestion from the Reform benches that the country should be declared in a state of emergency and a conference called with a view to an amicable readjustment of the industrial life of the Dominion brought the Acting-Prime Minister (Mr E. A. Ransom) to his feet in the House of Representatives to-day to protest against “ the wave of pessimism sweeping over the Opposition.” In a question addressed to the ActingPrime Minister about a fortnight ago Mr T. D. Burnett (Reform member for Temuka) suggested that the Government should call together representatives of all interests in the State—pastoral, agricultural, manufacturing, banking, mercantile, industrial, law and medicine—to consider the position. When Mr Ransom’s reply—namely, “There is no necessity to resort to the panic measures suggested by the honourable gentleman,” was circulated to-day, Mr, Burnett reiterated his opinion that a conference on the lines he had suggested should be called together. He referred to the contraction in the national income and the reduced prices the Dominion had received last year for its imports. 'ln the circumstances, he said,' the Acting-Prime Minister would be justified in declaring the country iu a state of emergency. In his opinion, if some readjustment were not made the employing classes could not employ and the working people would be work* less. “ I will probably ho called a pessimist,” said Mr Burnett, “but at a time like this I can afford to treat it with contempt.” Mr D. Jones . (Mid-Canterbury) and the Leader of the Opposition (Mr J, G. Coates) considered that the remarks made by the member for Temuka were worthy of the fullest consideration by the Government. “I do not think we are in the serious condition that Reform members would like us to believe we are,” said the Acting-Prime Minister. “X am divulging, no confidences if I say that the eminent financier Sir Otto Niemeyer does not regard this country as being in a serious- condition,” Mr W. J. Poison (Independent member for Stratford): You never gave him a chance to investigate. Mr Ransom said the position to-day was not as serious as it was in the days of the Reform administration in 1921-22. He was not saying that with the object of making political capital, but there had been a tendency to lay the blame for the country’s present difficulties at the door of the Government. It had been suggested that all the various interests mentioned by the member for Temuka should be called together to solve the problems of the day, but he did not believe they could be overcome by calling together interests so diametrically opposed to one another. There were difliculties facing the Dominion, but he did not regard the position of the country as being so serious as had been indicated in Mr Burnett's question. ‘ If it were decided to declare the country in a state of emergency what would be the effect on the Dominion's credit when that, decision was announced in the London papers to-morrow morale!?? “I would be failing in my duty if I did not rise to stop this wav© of pessimism coming from the Opposition benches, ” said Mr Ransom. The Minister of Labour (Mr S; G. .Smith); It is only electioneering. “There is no justification for the belief that we are going to sink deeper,” continued Mr Ransom. “ With the exception of wool it could not be regarded that the prices for our primary products have been seriously low. I know of cases- whereby increased production meant that farmers had larger returns for the past season.” A member; The national income was down' by £9,000,000. Mr Ransom; ’ There seems to be a belief that we are falling into a morass from which we cannot emerge. I want to contradict that. 1 Mr K. S. Williams- (Bay of Plenty) said the tone of the market could not be called buoyant. He considered the calling of a conference would do good, . Reform Party is backing up the insidious propaganda that is going on to reduce wages ” said Mr J. M'Combs (Lyttelton). It .behoves all workers m the Dominion to take note of it, and it is being aided and abetted by speakers from the Reform Party benches." The discussion was interrupted by the adjournment.