WHAT POWERS?

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 106, 6 May 1936, Page 10

WHAT POWERS?

QUESTION RAISED. GUARANTEEING PRICES. «DAIRY PRODUCTS ONLY." ißy Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday. What powers does the Primary Products Marketing Bill confer upon the Government? This question was raised in the House to-night during a twenty minutes' discussion that arose on a point of order when Mr. Speaker intervened during the second reading debate when Mr. H. S. S. Kyle (National, Riccarton) had made more than a passing reference to guaranteed prices for wheat.

"The bill does not include iteme outside of dairy produce," said Mr. Speaker by way of correction.

Mr. W. J. Poison (National, Stratford) immediately raised a point of order, referring to Clause 8 of the bill, as well as the preamble. In the latter, primary products were mentioned. He suggested that the scope of the discussion should be reasonably wide. ,

Mr. F. W. Schramm (Government, Auckland East) pointed out that the bill was divided into three partsadministration, the marketing of dairy produce, and the New Zealand Dairy Board. Mr. Kyle said that under Clause 8 the functions of the Executive Commission of Agriculture were to be transferred to the Primary Products Marketing Department. Mr. H. G. Dickie (National, Patea) said the title of the bill was as follows: "An Act to make better provision for the ' marketing of dairy produce and other primary products, so as to ensure

for the producers an adequate remuneration for the services rendered by them to the community." Mr. S. G. Smith (National, New Plymouth) supported the contention of the last speaker. . . The Minister of Finance, Mr. Nash: There is nothing in the bill that gives the Government power to fixe the price of wheat. Mr. Smith: Nobody said so. Mr Nash: And nothing to fix the price of wool. The bill does cover all primary products in certain fields, but it docs not cover guaranteed prices, other than for dairy products. Sir Alfred Ransom (National, Pahiatua) : Clause 14 covers all products. Mr. Nash: Not all guaranteed prices. Sir Alfred Ransom said that by Order-in-Council the Government could cover all products.

Mr. Savage's Viewpoint. The Prime Minister, Mr. Savage: I think the member for Pahiatua has been in the House long enough to know that regulations will only be gazetted to give effect to the law, whatever it is. There is nothing in this bill to allow the Government to deal with anything outside dairy produce, as far as I can see.' Why you go around the whole field of primary production beats me. Continuing, the Prime Minister said he had been advised that other legislation would be necessary to include wheat. Those who had shaped the bill had confined it to dairy produce. Tho Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Forbes, said it was clear that the bill referred to primary products. Mr. Nash: Marketing is confined to dairy produce, Mr. Forbes: It is clear that wheat is a primary product. Mr. Coatcs said that so far the whole discussion had embraced guaranteed prices, but not necessarily dairy produce alone. He drew attention to the scope of the Executive Commission of Agriculture and mentioned all the boards that it embraced.

"Pireamble Loosely Drawn." Mr. Speaker said that In Ills judgment the bill was substantially one dealing with dairy produce and the whole discussion on the bill had to be concentrated on the question of dairy produce. Too much stress could not be laid upon the preamble. It was loosely drawn. He drew attention to Clause 19, that set out how the price of exported dairy produce was to be fixed. He had allowed considerable latitude. The speech of the member for Riccarton had developed into an attack upon the member for MidCanterbury. He had read a letter about wheat prices and it seemed that he had overstepped the limits allowed. It was essential to remember the main purpose of the hill was the marketing of dairy produce and the guaranteed price for that product. If members would keep that in mind there would be no difficulty, nor would there be any need for him" to check them for departing from the main purpose of the bill. Mr. Poison: You will not exclude discussion on Clause o—functions of the marketing department? Mr. Speaker: Not on any portion of the bill.