Royal Commission On Bread Wanted

Press, Volume C, Issue 29679, 24 November 1961, Page 8

Royal Commission On Bread Wanted

“By rejecting a proposal to investigate the establishment of an elected wheat committee bn similar lines to the Meat and Wool Boards, the Dominion agriculture section council of Federated Farmers has clearly indicated that it is neither concerned with the well-being of the baking industry nor with the demands of the public for bread of better quality,” said the president of the New Zealand Federation of Bakers, Mr W. McCutcheon, of Dunedin, in a statement yesterday. He said that a state of affairs had long since been reached where all interests whose activities were directly or indirectly connected with the production of bread should be the subject of a Royal commission of inquiry. Mr McCutcheon was commenting on the rejection by the Dominion agriculture section council on Wednesday of a remit put forward by Mr A. M. Galt (Southland) who had said that an elected Wheat Committee might have a more democratic standing than the committee as it is currently constituted. Mr Gait’s remit was opposed by Mr C. T. A. Ward (United Wheatgrowers) who said that the committee as at present composed was held in high regard, although its constitution differed from those of the Meat and Wool Boards. Interests of Growers

“Mr Ward would be a very ungrateful gentleman, indeed, if he failed to hold the Wheat Committee in high regard,” said Mr McCutcheon. “The reason is not far to seek. The Wheat Committee has consistently favoured the interests of growers to the prejudice of the interests of the baking industry in meeting the demands for quality consumers.

“As it is at present constituted the Wheat Committee is dominated by members whose interests are in line with those c-f United Wheatgrowers and the milling industry. Apparently neither the baking industry nor the consumer is worthy of any real considerataion. “Although the Wheat Committee has all the outward appearance of widespread and adequate representation, this is not the case,” continued Mr McCutcheon. “Members in a particular industry are appointed by the Minister of Industries and Commerce, not the industry, and not necessarily on the advice of the industry. They have no predetermined term of office and are not subject to recall by the industry. “It should be evident.

therefore, that Mr Galt hit the nail right on the head when he said that it was felt that an elected Wheat Committee might have a more democratic standing. "In point of fact. Mr Galt under-stated the case. ■ The committee, as at present constituted. has been removed from the checks, disclosures and review to which any section of a department of Government would normally be subject. At the same time it has none of the merits of an independent body. “Consequently its operations are cloaked in secrecy and the evidence which influences decisions, and the level of responsibility at which they are made, is obscured to the undoubted detriment of the baking industry and consumers. “Our federation has made a number of fruitless approaches with the objective of securing a wider representation of interests on the Wheat Committee, as it is now constituted, in order to achieve, at least in some measure, the ‘more democratic standing’ suggested by Mr Galt. I “I think that the baking I industry in general would (agree that, even if the Minister had accepted the fed- | eration's proposals, the situation, at best, would not have (been greatly improved. Ours lis a vital national industry land if it is to provide consumers with the quality of product they have every I right to expect it cannot be (subject to partisanship. “The federation is deeply conscious of its invidious position,” said Mr McCutjcheon. “Bakers are at the (•mercy of interests over which they have no control I and interests which, obIviously. will continue to turn a deaf ear, not only to them I but also to consumers, for ijust as long as the existing set-up is allowed to remain. “Now that the Dominion (agriculture section council lof Federated Farmers has made its position perfectly clear, it should be given the opportunity of justifying it. The logical solution is a Royal Commission of Inquiry in order that all interests whose activities are either directly or indirectly connected with the production of bread are subjected' to the closest scrutiny and public appraisal. “The New Zealand Federation of Bakers would welcome such a commission and it is my view that in advancing the proposal the federation will have the fullest support of consumers,” said Mr McCutcheon.