POLICY CONDEMNED

Taranaki Daily News, 22 June 1935, Page 7

POLICY CONDEMNED

FARM RELIEF LEGISLATION.

LEADER OF OPPOSITION SPEAKS.

By Telegraph—Press Association.

Auckland, Last Night.

Criticism of the Government’s policy and of recent legislation as it aspects the farmers of New Zealand was made by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. M. J. Savage, in an address at Maungaturoto to-night.

Mr. Savage contended that the Agriculture (Emergency Powers) Act established virtual dictatorship in primary industries. It empowered the GovernorGenera l-in-Council to transfer to the Executive Commission of Agriculture any powers conferred by statute or otherwise on the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board, the Dairy Control Board, the Fruit Export Control Board, any local control board provided for under the , Fruit Control Act, 1924, the Honey Control Board, and the Poultry Board. The effect of the Mortgage Corporation of New Zealand Act was to destroy the financial contracts entered into between the State and its clients and to hand over to the corporation, - semi-privately controlled body, the securities upon which those contracts were based. The Rural Mortgagors Final Adjustment Act provided no immediate relief for farmers in difficulties, continued Mr. Savage. During the five-year yeriod those farmers seeking relief would be subjected to budgetary control of a type similar to the inquisitorial methods of the Unemployment Board. In dealing with relief workers Mr. Savage said that while farmers were subject to rapidly changing external conditions and prices there could be no security for them or for . any other section of the community. Farmers’ difficulties could be solved only by readjustment of mortgages, payment of guaranteed prices and State control of the monetary system with the establishment of the principle of currency based on goods and services which were exchanged. Mr. Savage also advocated a universal system of superannuation, a national health service based upon universal insurance, reform of the system of unemployment relief and adjustment of overseas debts in accord with ruling monetary and trade conditions.