TIME FOR CHANGE

Southland Times, Issue 21649, 10 March 1932, Page 8

TIME FOR CHANGE

‘YEARS OF MUDDLEMENT’ GOVERNMENT BY FARMERS MR E. J. HOWARD IN CRITICAL MOOD (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, March 9. “For 20 years we have had a farmers’ Government in New Zealand and after 20 years we get them coming along and saying that they have made such a darned mess of it that 20,000,000 acres of land in the country are not paying their way. We pointed out 10 years ago the results of the Government’s policy of 1921-22 and our contentions have been borne out. We are making the same point again. lam sure that if a city man (the late Sir Joseph Ward) had not died, we would have been in a better position to-day. The methods being used by the Government will only land us deeper into the mire than ever.” These remarks were portion of a speech made by Mr E. J. Howard (L., Christchurch South) in the Address-in-Reply debate in the House of Representatives this afternoon when he strongly criticized Government by farmers. He claimed that of the farmer?, in New Zealand, 50 per cent, were not exporters and the others were running the country. Of what use would the high exchange rate be to the non-exporters. The regime of the farmers’ Government was marked by milestones of muddlement. The Hon. J. G. Coates laughed at this remark. “I wouldn’t laugh,” retorted Mr Howard, “If I had the right hon. gentleman’s milestones of mudlement to my credit. Look at the Rotoruh-Taupo railway with thousands of pounds worth of machinery just rusting away. A Labour member: What about Kirikopuni. Mr Howard: Why bring that up? I won the election on that. I have a beautiful picture of it. He went on to refer to the North Island East Coast line, the South Island main trunk, the suspension of work at Waitaki, which meant that the first flood would wash away thousands of pounds worth of work, and Arapuni. Who could look at. Arapuni without a blush? Four millions were sunk into it. Then Waikaremoana would never pay until the country was developed to take the power available. Why could not New Zealand profit by the Japanese example of development since 1871.

Mr W. J. Polson (1., Stratford): Would the hon. gentleman advocate Japanese wage conditions? Mr Howard: If the hon. gentleman were in charge of the country, we would have less than that. We wouldn’t even get the smell of an oily rag. We might get the steam from the windows of his mansion. When I heard the hon. gentleman make his first speech in the House I thought a new star had arisen in the firmament. He has not even proved a rocket, though he is a squib.

Mr Howard referred to Mr Polson’s attacks on the Reform Party and now he was a bedfellow of the Reform members. He was sleeping with them literally for they were all asleep. The inactivity of the Ministry in developmental activities next received Mr Howard’s attention. "The Ministry just seems to me to be freezing works,” he said. “It takes ’em in and freezes ’em to cold mutton and there they are. What is the influence that chills men -when they enter the Ministry? Is the Minister,of Finance a chiller?

The Hon. W. Downie Stewart: Oh no. Mr Howard: I hope not because the hon. gentleman has been optimistic in the past. “I’m an optimist about everything except the Labour Party,” replied Mr Stew>art. ‘That is because he fears us,” said Mr Howard. “Those we fear, we hate. The hon. Minister fears us because the Labour Party would do what he wanted to do as a young man. Mr Stewart: You’ve been telling me that for 10 years. Mr Howard: I’m sorry I have made no impression on the honourable gentleman.