GOVERNMENT’S OPPONENTS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 186, 10 August 1935, Page 16

GOVERNMENT’S OPPONENTS

REPLY BY HON. S. G. SMITH. ( Per Preus Association. ) NEW PLYMOUTH, Aug. 8. A sharp reply to the Government’s critics was given by the Minister of Employment the Hon. S. G. Smith, in a pre-sessional address at New Plymouth. “If Sir Alexander Herdman is the true patriot he pretends he is,” said Air. (Smith, “he would jtave given point to his criticism by coming down from, his sheltered and assured position on the Bench four years ago and would have lent a hand in helping New Zealand to weather the ivorst economic storm of all time.” “As far as Air. IDoidge’s scheme of Empire Free Trade is concerned, if he has his way it will mean that the end of New Zealand’s secondary industries has come.” Mr. Smith also denied wha( he termed a rumour circulated among the unemployed that he was receiving a double salary for holding the portfolios of Education and Unemployment, and made reference to the exploitation of the unemployment funds by certain local bodies. The Government had acted promptly, he said, and had taken every unemployed man out on misten a nee in th ose areas.