THE AGRICULTURE COMMISSION

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21315, 7 November 1934, Page 10

THE AGRICULTURE COMMISSION

A Proposal to Have Four Members

MINISTER OF CROWN AS

CHAIRMAN

[From Our Parliamentary Reporter]

WELLINGTON, November 6.

The appointment of the Minic* for Agriculture to the Executive Commission of Agriculture propose; under the Agriculture (Emergent? Powers) Bill is expected to be pro vided for in an amendment to th; measure which will be introduce; in the House of Representatives far the Government. Thus there wjj be four members on the commitThe original intention was tfc» the commission should comprise only three, two being persons w!a had been actively engaged in pj. Mary production as producers, manufacturers, or in some other closely associated connexion, jj was thought that one such member would be a representative of the dairying industry and another a representative of the meat industry, while the third, it was though:, would not necessarily have any connexion with two leading primal industries. Under the revised arrangement, there will be four members, with the Minister as chairman and a member not connected with the dairying or meat industries as deputy-chairman. In practice it is probable that the office of deputy-chairman will be an important one, in much the same way as the deputy-chairman of the Unemployment Board relieves the chairman, who is Minister for Employment, of a considerable volume of the detailed work.

Government Representation

It is understood that a feeling was expressed at last week's Coalition caucus that the Government should be directly represented on the commission. An undertaking to agree to that course, it is believed, was given on behalf of the Cabinet to another caucus of the party held this morning. It is stated that the Government party is now wholly behind the bill.

Other drafting alterations are alio likely to be made to the measure. For instance, it has been stated that there is no intention to bring under the scope of the legislation compulsorily any industry not included in the operations of the existici boards. That was a point whicr caused some concern to those engaged in the wool indusby. This intention, it is understood, is to be explicitly stated ia the bill. Assurances have been given that the Government desires the Commission of Agriculture ar.d the various boards to work in thorough harmony. To ensure the realisation of that aim, it is probable that the bill will provide for' the fullest consultation and will allow certain powers to be exercised by the commission or by the boards, as may be thought best, after such consultation has taken place.

Relief of Farmers

Taken by and large, it is considered that the amendments to be made to the bill will ensure for the measure a more cordial reception than it met on its first appearance. Although there have been urgent pleas that the Government should endeavour before the adjournment to make provision for the financial relief of struggling farmers, it* gathered that it will not be possible to take steps in that direction until the House meets early next year, in view of the necessity for further time for the framing of the National Mortgage Corporation legislation.