Consumer Council Representation

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31161, 10 September 1966, Page 3

Consumer Council Representation

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, September 9. If the manufacturers and retailers had some influence in deciding who would judge the quality and price of their products, that judgment must be suspect, Mr A. J. Faulkner (Opp., Roskill) said in Parliament today.

In the third-reading debate on the Consumer Council Bill, Mr Faulkner said it seemed obvious the Government was determined the manufacturers and retailers should have a say in “their judge and jury.” The Opposition has objected to a clause in the bill which includes on the appointments committee of the council, a representative of the Manufacturers’ and Retailers’ federations. Mr Faulkner renewed demands that the bill be amended to provide for a postal ballot of council members to elect the appointment’s committee, instead of the present

system by which the Govern ment selected the members.

To suggest the presidents of two of such responsible organisations would abuse the trust placed in them was an unworthy argument, said the Under-Secretary of Finance (Mr Muldoon).

The defects in the postalvote system had been brought out when the bill was put through the committee stages

The Government was just as keen as the Opposition to see the Consumer Counci l played its proper part, said Mr Muldoon. “We want to see a consumer counci] that is truly representative of the consumer,” said Mr R. J. Tizard (Onn.. Pakuranga). Mr H. E. L. Pickering (Govt., Rangiora) said apnointments to the council would be solely on personal qualifications. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Kirk) said the term “personal qualifications” is completely meaningless unless it is defined and we have had no definition of it.

The bill was given a third reading.