MR. LEE AT GREY LYNN.

Thames Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 20421, 24 September 1938, Page 2

MR. LEE AT GREY LYNN.

[To the Editor]

tjir,—Mr. Lee has told the people at Grey Lynn that lie blamed the CoatesPorbes Government’s policy for the fall in tho volume of the NeAV Zealand production during the slump, through its reduction of people’s purchasing poAver. By contrast, he said, Labour had made possible the increase in the annual production from £103,000,000 to £121,000,000, the largest in NeAv Zealand’s history. “We charge Mr. Savage, before the court of public opinion, Avith making Ncav Zealand prosperous. We find him guilty, and sentence him to be Prime Minister of Ncav Zealand for the term of his natural life.”

We, the Nationalists, say that, first of all, the Coates-Forbes Government did not make the volume of production fall. It rose, but the price fell and the price was beyond the control of Coates and Forbes. Mr. Savage and Mr. Lee cannot keep up the price of wool now, and wo do not think that Mr. Semple (he of the running shoes) can do it, either. In u pamphlet issued by the Labour Party three years ago, it says that “the farmers’ production increased by 42 per cent.” How does Mr. Lee explain that? Is he right, or is the Labour pamphlet right? The pamphlet says: “The farmers have responded to the Government’s (Coates-Forbes) pol icy of more production.” As their production increased their income declined. Mr. Savage did not make the price rise; 80 per cent, of our pastoral produce was exported, and we got less for our butter this year than if it had been sold in the open market. Mr. Nash has said that he could not give the price the committee asked for for butter and cheese, because if he did the scheme would break down. The farmers have to take less so that tlie Government can make a useless railway through mountainous country in the South Island, perhaps. In another part of Mr. Lee’s speech he said that for every applicant who secured a house, under his scheme, of course, there were 99 deserving cases who did not get one. Now, the Government has been in for three years, and even with Mr. Lee’s help, only ono per cent, have secured a house. This does not say much for Mr. Lee’s management. Well, it might have been worse! It might have been a half per cent. He says they are going on building till they have built a house foi everybody. He is under the impression that tho Government is going to last a long time apparently, at this rate of building. The position, to put it in the form of a sum, is this: —If in three years 1 per cent, of the houses wanted are built, how long will it take, at tho same rate of progress, to build 99 per cent.? Also, how old will the last tenant be when ho takes his bride into the last house to be built? Can anyone reckon up the problem? Should we apply to a mathematician or a metaphysician? We do not want to apply to Mr. Lee. If lie stopped to answer us he might go even slower with his house-building.—I am, etc.,

“THE OTHER SIDE.”