MINISTER'S REPLY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 12, 14 July 1938, Page 10

MINISTER'S REPLY

REQUIREMENTS OF ACT

Mi\ Nash quoted from the Farming Products Marketing Act to illustrate how the industry was protected. Referring to tariffs, he said that they could* not affect the question of production costs because those costs were taken oh New Zealand conditions after the tariffs had been paid. If they were overseas prices, then the tariffs would have to be considered, but they were wholly based on New Zealand conditions. The standard of living of the producers was covered by the Act and the Government was charged with considering all relevant factors when ascertaining the price.

"I don't know why these words are wanted," Mr. Nash said. "These words you ask me to put in."

Mr. Mulholland: There can be no objection to them.

Mr. Nash: No. But why? If the case is covered, why draw something: across the track? This is 80 per cent, political. A member of the deputation declared that there was nothing political about their request.

Mr. Nash: I think so. I may be wrong, but I don't think so. Everyone says I am wrong, but I don't think so.

Referring again to the Act, Mr. Nash said he did not think there was anything more complete than that. "That is what we are compelled by law to do," he said.

At Morrinsville, he continued, he had been asked about a tribunal. He had said "All right." The same thing was asked at the' Dairy Conference. The Prime Minister had told the Farmers' Union they could have a tribunal —a tribunal to fix the price, not to make investigations into other matters.

"I went to the Dairy Conference to say the tribunal was ready," Mr. Nash said. "I had already talked with Supreme Court Judges -about the job —that we would have them' to deter-

mine the price. The conference said, 'No, we don't want a Judge.'"

Now- the deputation was asking for a committee with three members nominated by the industry, Mr. Nash continued. They could not question the representatives of the industry there before. They had had five out of ten there and now they wanted three on either side and a Judge.

"I don't see any reason why you should not nominate three," he said, "but I don't see any reason why you should want a Supreme Court Judge."

Mr. Savage: Who did you have last time? • ■ -,

Mr. Nash: Sir Francis Frazer.

Mr. Savage: He has the status of a Supreme Court Judge and also a wide economic knowledge.

Mr. Nash said Sir Francis had a wide knowledge of the industry and was widely known in the industry. If the Government agreed to a committee there was no need why the names of the nominees of the industry should not be given to the Government.

. Mr. Nash said his Department ■~would arrange that every bit of information available should be given to the committee, but he could not see the advantage of public meetings. That would mean that the matter would be brought to a controversial point day after day. There was nothing to stop that, but he could not see any advantage in publicity. Personally he did not mind the publicity, but it would bring the question into the controversial political field and then the Government, inside that political atmosphere, would be expected to fix the price.

"While I don't want to talk about the Press, we don't always get a good run from them. (To Mr. Savage): You don't think so, do you?"

Mr. Savage: No; sometimes a very dirty run.

Mr. Nash said that if the Government decided to set up the committee it would be a real help if the industry could nominate its representatives at once.

Mr. Hale: They would do that. We are quite prepared to stay here tomorrow to finalise this thing. I want to assure you, Mr. Nash, that there is nothing political about this at all. I have no political leanings whatever. Mr. Nash said that if the Prime Minister was as agreeable as he was to the work being done he would make himself available to the representatives of the industry tomorrow. The committee suggested would save Mr. Duncan and the Internal Marketing Division a lot of work. If the Prime Minister and the Government were as agreeable as he was he could see no reason why the committee should not be set up nor why the industry should j not elect three members. He consid- j ered that Sir Francis Frazer would be the best chairman that could be procured, j PRIME MINISTER AGREES. | The Prime Minister said that a survey of the history of the Government j would convince anyone that a decent! attempt had been made to carry out the pledge given to the farmers before the last election. He would not say that the guaranteed price had been absolutely correct, but at least an attempt had been made- to arrive at something human. He agreed with what the Minister of Finance had said regarding the formation of a committee; there could be no objection to that, but he held the opinion that the setting up of a tribunal would not relieve the Government of doing justice to-the farmers. The tribunal would be helpful in collecting information that would be useful to the Government and the industry in hammering out a price and policy helpful to all.

If the committee put forward a price that he did not regard as sufficient, he would not be content to let. the matter rest there.

It had been "said that ho material change had been made in. the original request made by the. dairy farmers, Mr. Savage said, but as he understood it the tribunal should .fix- the price, whereas the proposal now was that the price should be recommended to the Government. This was a distinctly material change. , The only difference he couid see between Mr. Nash and the members of the deputation was on the question of chairmanship. There seemed to be no objection to a representation of three on each side, and he though it would be helpful if Sir Francis Frazer with his knowledge could preside. . LEADING ARTICLES. Mr. Savage said he would not allow the proceedings to be open. If that were done there would be leading articles from people who did not know one end of a cow from the other, and this was' not a favourable time for such a thing either.

"There is no reason why you should not publish a report at the conclusion of the deliberations," said Mr. Savage, "but to have the thing thrashed'out day by day in the newspapers would not be satisfactory. There would be leading articles every day .to; attempt to influence the people, and these would be written by editors who know very little of the true facts involved. We have had one experience of this sort and we are not going to have another. During the 'recess the Press was admitted to a Parliamentary Committee, and it was not at all helpful.. We got one side all the time, the side that seemed to be putting the Government in a hole. We don't want that again."

The Prime Minister, concluded by. urging the deputation to expedite the arrangements so that, the scheme could be completed with as little delay as possible. "Don't drag it- out, and let us get to what we want by August!," said Mr. Savage.

Mr. Hale assured Mr. Savage that they would endeavour to make the preliminary arrangements with 'the Minister of Finance tomorrow.