POLITICAL RESOLUTIONS.

Putaruru Press, Volume XI, Issue 510, 23 February 1933, Page 5

POLITICAL RESOLUTIONS.

FIND LITTLE FAVOUR. At County Council Meetings. An attempt was made by Cr. E. D. White (Okoroire) at Friday’s | meeting of the Matamata County Council to secure the passage of a resolution on the exchange question. Cr. J. W. Anderson thought it was a matter which should not be raised as it was a political, question. Cr. White replied: that it should not be considered as a political question. Cr. P. Dee asked how the increase in the exchange rate affected the council. Cr. Anderson replied that the council was worse off now in that it had- lost the win it had had. for two years in the favourable rate of exchange with: Australia. Crs.. A.. T. Morriss and E, Mickle expressed themselves as being in favour- of the increased exchange. Cr. Morriss. said that he took it that, for every £IOO- of produce they exported they got £.12.5. Cr. White stated the position', was that they were; asking the consumer in England to- pay £125 for £MS® worth of goods. This the consumer was unable to do to the same extent with the result, that prices dropped, and more unemployment was caused..

Some amusement was caused when, Cr. J. Bruce interjected that GitWhite had got it the wrong way round. He said that New Zealand money had depreciated, but English, consumers were not paying more. Cr. Morriss: That is what I said), we get £25 per £IOO more. Cr. Bruce: The only chance the: farmer had of getting anything was when it was first put on. In any case the rate should have been, raised long ago to do any good.

Cr. Anderson remarked that. the. farmer did not always get the benefit, which often went to the exporter: Cr. Morriss: They get the full; benefit if they sell through a cooperative concern. Cr. Anderson: But there is not a co-operative concern buying stock..

Cr. Morriss: That is the farmers’ own funeral. Cr. White then moved that the council, while appreciating the efforts of the Government to remedy economic conditions, held that the Government was entirely on the wrong track and that much more benefit to the farmers would accrue from wiping out tariffs imposed against British goods. Cr. Dee thought the resolution would be all right at a dairy meeting, but not at a county council' meeting.

Cr. Pohlen said the resolution dealt with a subject which: was, quite- apart from council business. It was out of place and for this reason he could 1 not support it. He had adopted the same attitude aC" the' Power Board meeting.

The chairman called for a seconder but as none was forthcoming- the motion lapsed. Cr; Anderson then remarked that Cr. Pohlen had shown his consistency, because at: a Power Board meeting he had opposed a similar resolution supporting the Government: and that day he opposed one condemning the Government.