DEATH KNELL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 106, 6 May 1936, Page 11

DEATH KNELL.

BLOW TO MERCHANTS. EMPLOYEES' PREDICAMENT. MR. WRIGHT AS CHAMPION. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Iteportor.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday. Asserting that Tooley Street merchants wielded great power. Mr. R. A. Wright (Independent, Wellington Suburbs), in the House to-night, speaking on the Primary Products Marketing Bill, said New Zealand had reason to know what happened when Dairy Board members went to England and tried to dictate the price at which they could sell butter. The industry had been in difficulties ever since. Tooley Street merchants were keen business people and dealt with things in a businesslike way. The Prime Minister had assured the. people that they had nothing to fear and that he hoped for the co-operation of the people in the work of building New Zealand. "It is a good statement," commented Mr. Wright, "but 'I don't think it squares with this bill." The Prime Minister also said, he added, that no injustice was to be done to any section of | the community. The 'bill did a grave injustice to one section of men and women engaged in the export trade. "I know there is very little sympathy with J any merchant," Mr. Wright added, "but the dairy merchants who will be involved will be dismissed. The dairy merchants have done a great deal to obtain markets, in their own interests, of course. > as well as in the farmers'. They have financed dairy farmers and have stood by them in times of adversity. At one blow this bill will dispossess them and put them practically out of business. Does that square with what the Prime Minister said? What about the employees in these firms? They also will be dismissed at a moment's notice and will have to join the unemployed.

This bill sounds their death knell." Mr. Wright sakl that the number affected would be about 100 or 170, and with dependents the total would probably be about 320. The bill also abolished f.o.b. sales, sai.l ] Mr. Wright, and that would mean that i such sales would go elsewhere. Custom would probably be transferred to Australia and New Zealand would probably be subject to a quota in Britain. Japan I also was to be reckoned with, and tho ■ Japanese were being taught by Danish J instructors. Mr. Wright said that next election j there would be some party trying to, outbid the Government for the dairy j farmers' vote. "It will be a case of , the farmers' vote being put up for! public auction, and the non-farmer will I have to pay. As Kipling says, it will be *Riy, payvpay. , " t