N.S.W. MEAT BOARD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 285, 1 December 1932, Page 14

N.S.W. MEAT BOARD.

ABOLITION DECIDED. CABINET'S DIFFICULTIES. PRESTIGE OF MB. STEVENS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, November 25. For some little time paet Mr. Weaver, one of the most active and energetic of our Ministers, has been maturing plane for the reorganisation of the meat industry. He has at last induced Cabinet to accept his scheme for the abolition of the Meat Board and the transfer of control of the Hornibush abattoirs to a general manager, aesfeted by an advisory council. The members of the Meat Board were appointed for live years, and have served only 18 months of their term. The question of compensation will therefore be raised, but this must be left for Parliament to eettle. It is interesting to recall the fact that Mr. Kay, one of the members, was removed from the Meat Board by Mr. Bavin in 1927, by special Act, without compensation. However, Mr. Kay was restored by Mr. Lang, who seems to have regarded thie board as a special preserve for his friends—notably iu the ease of Mr. Scott, the chairman, whose salary ie £2500 a year, and who is a bitter opponent of Mr. Stevens. The abolition of the Meat Board thus hae some political significance, and it will certainly be an advantage to have it placed beyond the risk of political control. Mr. Weaver's success in securing the abolition of the board ia regarded as a noteworthy personal triumph, and i?o, too, is the exclusion of any direct representation of the graziers, who have always maintained that they have a right to the control of the meat trade. On this point the members of the U.C.P. are naturally sympathetic, but in spite of the strength of the Country party in Parliament and Cabinet Mr. Weaver evidently got his way. He is certainly one of the most persistent and efficient of our administrators. Destitute Persons' Maintenance. Things have not gone quite satisfactorily with the Stevens Government of late. The Moratorium Bill and the Farmers' Relief Bill have both required substantial amendment to meet the requirements and protests of various members of the party. Then vigorous opposition is expected from certain quarters to the measure for the reform of the Upper House. An even more disconcerting incident ie the withdrawal of the Destitute Persons Maintenance Bill, which was distinctly an unpopular measure. No doubt it is just and wise to take precautions against fraud and imposture in the distribution of State aid. But the inquiries and investigations necessitated by the bill and the attempt to throw the responsibility for the support of the destitute upon near relatives made it generally obnoxious, and the difficulty of striking a happy mean between justice and generosity in such cases rendered the task of Ministers a very difficult one. The country will not sufl'er seriously through the lack of such a measure, but its disappearance is rather a blow to Mr. Stevens' prestige. No Substitute for Mr. Stevens. On this last topic —the personal influence and reputation of Mr. Stevens —1 have commented before, and there ie no doubt that he is still open to criticism, .on account of his rigid personal views and his lack of adaptability. Sure of hie own integrity and public spirit,, he does not always display sound political judgment in the methods that lie employs or the occasions that he selects to carry out his purposes. But though he can hardly be described aa personally popular, there can be no doubt that he enjoys a very large measure of public confidence and respect. One of the newspapers here which has frequently criticised him adversely wae recently diseussiing the rumour of hia projected trip to London and the possibility of finding a substitute or even a successor for him, and it came to the conclusion tha-t Mr. Stevens "need not lose any sleep" on that ecore. This critic can see no other member of the Cabinet able to take hia place with any reasonable prospect of success, and it concluded its remarks with, a frank and full admission of Mr. Stevens' admirable personal and public qualities. "Hβ hae been a tireless and indefatigable worker, and hie integrity and honesty have never been questioned." After all, that is a very impressive and valuable testimonial.