REPLY TO CRITICISM

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 22611, 16 May 1945, Page 4

REPLY TO CRITICISM

MR NORDMEYER AT FRANKTON REASON FOR POTATO SHORTAGE The Hon. A. H. Nordmeyer, Minister of Health, who is visiting Hamilton to support the candidature of Mr C. A. Barrell, as the official Labour representative for the Hamilton by-election, was the principal speaker at the Frankton Town Hall last night. At the outset Mr Nordmeyer referred to the published observations of Mr C. M. Bowden, National M.P. for Wellington West, in reference to the shortage of potatoes in Hamilton during the past few days. The Minister said Mr Bowden seemed to imply that the Government was to blame. The speaker had promptly telegraphed to the Minister of Agriculture on the subject, and that evening had received the following reply: “The potato shortage in the north is purely of a temporary nature, due primarily to local shipping shortage, and the necessity of meeting shipping requirements for the overseas forces. Three shipments with approximately 13,000 sacks of potatoes are now loaded for Auckland, and a further 8000 sacks are being loaded next Friday.” Victory Celebrations Mr Nordmeyer said Mr Bowden had suggested that the ?ontrol of people’s lives was part of the Government philosophy, commenting that last Tuesday nobody was allowed to celebrate and rejoice over the unconditional surrender of the Germans, the prohibition being because the Government wanted the rejoicings delayed until the Wednesday. Actually there had been no official declaration of the cessation of hostilities on the Tuesday, and prior agreement had been reached among the United Nations’ leaders that such announcement should be made simultaneously in the United States, Britain and Russia, so that there could be united celebrations in Allied countries. Both the Minister and the candidate were accorded a vote of thanks on the motion of Mrs A. W. Wheeler and Mr T. Kennedy. Mr Barrell was accorded a vote of confidence as a trustworthy and tcompetent representative in Parliament.