WHAT POWERS?

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 106, 6 May 1936, Page 12

WHAT POWERS?

THE MARKETING BILL

SCOPE OF ITS CLAUSES

What powers does the Primary Products Marketing Bill actually confer upon the Government? This question was raised in the House of Representatives last night during a twenty minutes* discussion that developed on a point of order when Mr. Speaker intervened during the second reading debate at a point where Mr. H. S. S. Kyle (National, Riccarton) made more than a passing reference to guaranteed prices for wheat.

"The Bill does not include items outside of dairy produce," said Mr. Speaker by way of correction.

Mr. W. J. Poison (National, Stratford) immediately raised a point of order referring to clause 8 of the Bill as well as the preamble. In the latter primary products were mentioned. He suggested that the scope of the discussion should be reasonably wide.

Mr. F. W. Schramm (Government, Auckland East) pointed out that the Bill was divided into three parts—administration, marketing of dairy produce, and the New Zealand Dairy Board.

Mr. Kyle said that under clause 8 the functions of the Executive Commission of Agriculture were to be transferred to the Primary Products Marketing Department. WHAT THE PREAMBLE SAYS. Mr. H. G. Dickie (National, Patea) said the title of the Bill was as follows: "An Act to make better provision for the marketing of dairy produce and other primary products so ! as to ensure for producers an adequate remuneration for the services rendered by them to the community."

Mr. S. G. Smith (National, New Plymouth) supported the contention of the last speaker. ■

The Minister of Finance (the Hon. W. Nash): There is nothing in the Bill that gives the Government power to fix the price of wheat.

Mr. :Smith: Nobody said so.

Mr. Nash: Nothing to fix the price of wool. The Bill does cover all primary products in certain fields, but does not cover guaranteed prices other than for dairy products.

The Hon. Sir Alfred Ransom (National, Pahiatua): Clause 14 covers all products.

Mr. Nash: Not all guaranteed prices.

Sir Alfred said that by Order in Council the Government could cover all products.

The Prime Minister: I think the member for Pahiatua has been in the House long enough to know that regulations will only be Gazetted to give effect to the law whatever it is. There is nothing in this Bill to allow the Government to deal with anything outside dairy produce as far as I can see. Why you go around the whole field of primary production beats me. CONFINED XO DAIRY PRODUCE. Continuing, the Prime Minister said he had been advised that other legislation would be necessary to include wheat. Those who had shaped the Bill had confined it to dairy produce.

The Leader of the Opposition (the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes) said it was clear that the Bill referred to primary products.

Mr. Nash: Marketing is confined to dairy produce.

, Mr. Forbes: It is clear that wheat is a primary product.

The Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates (National, Kaipara) said that so far the whole discussion had embraced guaranteed prices, but not necessarily dairy produce alone. He drew attention to the scope of the Executive Commission of Agriculture and mentioned all the boards that it embraced.

The Hon. A. Hamilton (National, Wallace) said that under clause 6 of the Bill the Government had pbwer to stop the shipment of fescue without permission of the Minister. MR. SPEAKER'S RULING. Mr. Speaker (the Hon. W. E. Barnard) said that in his judgment the Bill was substantially one dealing with dairy produce, and the whole discussion on the Bill had been concentrated on the question of dairy produce. Too much stress could not be laid upon the preamble. It was loosely drawn. He drew attention to clause 19, which set out how the price of exported dairy produce was to be fixed. He had al-' lowed considerable latitude. The speech of the member for Riccarton had developed into an attack upon the member for Mid-Canterbury- He had read a letter about wheat prices, and it seemed that he had overstepped the limits allowed. It was essential to remember the main purpose of the Bill —the marketing of dairy produce and the guaranteed price for that product. If members would keep that in mind there would be no difficulty nor would there be any need for him to check them for departing from the main purpose of the Bill.

Mr. Poison: You will not exclude discussion on clause 6 (functions of the Marketing Department).

• Mr. Speaker: Not on any portion of the Bill.