“One Condition Not Fulfilled”

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31089, 18 June 1966, Page 1

“One Condition Not Fulfilled”

(From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, June 17. The Government claimed in Parliament today that the South Island Fertiliser Company had not fulfilled one of the conditions for the establishment of a fertiliser works in South Canterbury.

“The first of these conditions was that it should have the support of the farmers,” the Minister of Education (Mr Kinsella), who was deputising for the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Taiboys), said: “That has been fulfilled.

“The second condition, as laid down by the Electoral Colleges of the Meat and Wool boards and Federated Farmers, has not yet been fulfilled to the extent that no information has been given to the Government to enable it to decide whether these works would be economic.”

Mrs E. E. McMillan (Opp.. Dunedin North), had drawn Mr Kinsella’s attention to a statement by Mr W. B. Trotter, South Canterbury member of the Electoral College of the Meat and Wool Boards, in which Mr Trotter had warned that “the so-called farmers’ Government- should stop selling out to big business.” Mr Kinsella said that Mr Trotter was a member of the Electoral College which had produced the resolution to the Government. The resolution was: “That this Electoral College approve the use of producer funds for

the establishment of fertiliser works, provided that producers’ support as required is forthcoming, and provided that any such project can operate successfully on a competitive price basis.” Mr A. J. Faulkner (Opp., Roskill): Do I take it that the statement attributed to Mr Trotter has no foundation in truth? Mr Kinsella: That is rather a complicated way of putting it. (He read the resolution.) The Government has not yet had the information to enable it to decide whether the second provision can be fulfilled. Sir Basil Arthur (Opp., Timaru): When was that resolution passed? Mr Kinsella: About August 20. Sir Basil Arthur: Is the Minister aware that the resolution was passed after the Government had laid down conditions for the South Canterbury Fertiliser Company—-

conditions which had to be complied with for the use of pool funds? “I am not quite sure of the time factor. It is perfectly true that the Government laid down the conditions regarding the support that was necessary, and that this resolution was passed,” said Mr Kinsella. “It does not matter whether it was passed before or after, but two things were definitely laid down. One was fulfilled: the Government’s awaiting information on the other. “I am sure farmers throughout New Zealand would not think of using the pool funds without being certain that it would be to their advantage.”

Sir Basil Arthur: Do I take it that the conditions laid down by the Government depend upon no vetoing resolution being passed by the Electoral College or by Federated Farmers? Mr Kinsella: That is another matter.