Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. FRIDAY, MARCH 10th., 1933. LAY OF LAST MINISTER.

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 March 1933, Page 6

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. FRIDAY, MARCH 10th., 1933. LAY OF LAST MINISTER.

Roosevelt, Mussolini, and other leaders abroad are being acclaimed by their respective nations, but the glamour of such outside achievements should not blind New Zealanders to the merits of their own statesmen. Ministers are not always honoured in their own country, but it is to be hoped that the Avork of Mr. Macmillan in forcing the registration of the fowl-flocks’ bill through the House, Avill be adequately appreciated. Tie had much to contend with, but lie has the satisfaction of knowing that he Avon at the finish, and Ncav Zealand fowls, if members of a coop community numbering 25 or more, will now 7 haA’e to be registered, and certain

fees paid. The merits, or otlienvise, of the bill have been previously discussed. Its introduction Avas due to the N.Z. Poultry Association, Avhieh

has a membership of about 2000, the total number of foAvl-OAvners in the Dominion being estimated at over 154.000. The only objections to the bill Avere that it placed a tax on egg producers for the purpose of paying a bonus to dissatisfied exporters, it Avill increase artificially the price of eggs on the local market, and set up expensive and unnecessary machinery by Avay of a paid board and a baud of inspectors. Moreover, the possibility of

later control of the egg-export industry, is by no means small. The House, at first, laughed at the proposals. Chambers of Commerce took them more seriously, and denounced them as undemocratic and unjust, and the Agricultural Committee of. the House, which considered the evidence, reported against the hill being allowed to proceed. 3 his was surely enough to daunt almost any man. Air. Macmillan, however, rose superior to adverse circumstances, and in the dying hours ol the session, when several of the bill’s opponents had left for their homes, he saw the third reading carried. This is the type of leader 1 hej

country needs in these critical times, and supporters and critics alike should give credit where it is due. What matters the popular will ? It is for Ministers to say aye or nay. People cannot be expected to know what is good for them, or the country, and they should be grateful for having so keen Ministerial interest, taken in their doings. There are still several industries which the Government permit to conduct their own affairs, free from bureaucratic control, but their turn must come, if they will be but patient.. The registration of fowl-flocks was regarded as a matter of urgency, and none should begrudge the necessary preferment. The next session of Parliament will give opportunity for further action in this direction. Perhaps, already, some other Minister has his plans prepared to guide some reluctant industry in the path it does not wish to tread. Let him take heart, and not listen to reason, or other foolishness. This is the day of Dictators, and why should New Zealand lag behind other countries in this respect ? After the above had been set in type, this morning, news came from Wellington that a re-action-ary Legislative Council, had withheld its sanction to the bill, on the ground that constitutional rights were infringed, that the question was not urgent, and that further inquiry was justified. This die-hard Toryism is enough to put off any self-respecting hen from laying, but in any case, this column is already) too full for words that might convert the Councillors. Sir F. D. Bell tolled the bill to-day, but the Council’s coup may yet come home to roost.