The Timaru Herald THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 1929, NOTHING DONE!

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18350, 22 August 1929, Page 8

The Timaru Herald THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 1929, NOTHING DONE!

Dominion-wide interest centres in the conference of representatives of Farmers’ Unions which opens in Wellington to-day. In the House of Representatives on Tuesday, the Labour Member for Wellington East declared that Parliament had been in session for eight weeks, and so far had nothing to show for its labours. ‘‘What did it matter to thousands of over taxed farmers and jobless workers,” asked Mr Semple, “what was said in Parliament yesterday or ten years ago?” This turbulent Member of Parliament went on to declare that the House of Representatives has a mighty task to tackle! That is precisely the stark truth that is being gradually realised by the members of the United Party. “It is a mighty task,” says Mr Semple, “to try to tind work for the thousands of men who are tramping the country in vain, while their wives and children are starving at home.” Are there thousands of over taxed farmers and jobless workers in the land? Then where is the new heaven and the new earth the United Party promised this country if the electors would give them possession of the Treasury benches? Are there thousands of men tramping the country in vain? If so, what has become of the “Work for All” promise given by the United Party during the general election campaign. Are there thousands of overtaxed farmers in New Zealand? If so, what becomes of the promise of the United Party to lift the burden of taxation from the shoulders of those least ■ able to carry the load? Mr Semple says that Parliament has been in session for eight weeks and so far had nothing to show for its labours. Idas it not? Obviously the Labour Member for Wellington East has not accurately sensed the trend of political development. Eight weeks of talk have yielded much; eight weeks of more or less purposeless debate has revealed the failure of the new Administration —which has now been eight months in office—to deliver the gjods. In December last the Prime Minister informed the House of Representatives that the Government realised that the great work ahead related to the winter months. “The Government is making preparations now,” added Sir Joseph. And after eight months’ “preparations,” one outspoken Member of the House whose vote assisted the present Administration into office, makes the startling allegation that “there are thousands of men tramping the country in a futile search for work, while their wives and children are starving at home.” This tremendous indictment did not come from the Reform Party, but from the ranks of the allies of the United Party, without whose support the Government could hardly survive a crucial division. Such a statement calls for an immediate reply by the Prime Minister. Is Mr Semple indulging in exaggeration in saying that there are thousands of over taxed farmers in New Zealand? Tf so, what of the farmers’ organisation, and its Dominion president who is a supporter of the present Administration? In the .House of Representatives, one Member declared that the Member for Stratford, who is also president of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, “may be likened to a political Esau who has sold his birthright for a mess of potage.” Mr Poison on the other hand claimed that he could speak for the farmers; a claim, by the way, which has been vehemently repudiated by farmers from end to end of New Zealand. It has beeu urged, however, that taxpayers are becoming unduly alarmed. In reply, it has been pointed out that the Minister of Lands has described the new taxation it is proposed to levy as a “gentle reminder”; and since it can be shown that this “gentle reminder” affects the greater proportion of the farmers, the responsibility laid on the New Zealand Farmers’ Union is tremendous. Hence the momentous importance of the speciallyconvened meeting of representatives of farming interests which meets in Wellington to-day.