PRIMARY PRODUCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 113, 14 May 1936, Page 8

PRIMARY PRODUCE.

BILL NOW LAW. UPPER HOUSE PASSAGE. ONLY ONE DIVISION. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. The Primary Products Marketing Bill was passed by the Legislative Council early this afternoon. The Council met at 11 o'clock this morning, when the Committee stages were taken. Onlj' one amendment was moved, by the Hon. R. Masters, who endeavoured to secure a plebiscite of farmers before tho bill became law. Mr. Masters framed his amendment so that the Dairy Board would have to bear the cost of the vote, thereby overcoming the objection that the amendment would involve an appropriation. It was defeated by 23 votes to 10, which was the only division taken during tbe passage of the bill in the Council. All stages of the bill wore completed and the Council rose at 12.35 p.m. The division list on Mr. Masters' amendment was as follows: — Noes (23). —The Hons. Fagan, Bloodworth, Briggs, Brindle, Buddo, Burns, Carrington, Connelly, Cotter, Davis, Doyle, Dye, Goodall, Hunter, Lark, MeCullougli, Mclntyre, Martin, Mawliete, O'Byrne, Robbins, Snodgrass, Trevetliick. Ayes (10) —The Hons. Alexander, Allen, Hay ward, MeCallum, McLeod, Masters, Russell, Statliam, Waite, Ward. In the Committee stage the Hon. Mark Fagan assured the Hon. F. Waite that the differentiation in price between butter and cheese would be paid from the outset. He coulfl not say what the differentiation would be. The Hon. John Alexander protested against the method by which the liability of any person accused of selling dairy produce at anything except the fixed price should be determined. Mr. Fagan said the clause was necessary, as without it the bill would be weakened. The Government had to protect itself against "bootlegging" of any description.