COUNTRY QUOTA

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21853, 25 October 1945, Page 6

COUNTRY QUOTA

PLANS TO_ ABOLISH CHAMBER PROTESTS CENTRALISING POWER Feeling against the Government s proposal to abolish the system of the country quota was voiced by members of the Gisborne Chamber of Commerce at their monthly meeting last night. As a result, strong representations protesting against such action will be made to the Associated Chambers of Commerce. The effect the abolition of the country quota would have upon the country as a whole was criticised strongly by Mr. H. H. Barker, who stated that the centralisation of political power in the cities would moan that GO per cent of the Parliamentary voting power would be in those areas.

With the voting power in the cities nine-tenths of the? country would soon be dominated by the other one-tenth, and the country would be run oy city men to suit city standards. The balance of power must be preserved, and he suggested the chamber should take the matter up with the appropriate authorities. Chamber Non-political The president, Mr. H. R. Kcndcn, reminded members that the chamber was non-political and should not .become involved in questions involving politics as closely as this did. Mr. H. A. Dear moved that the matter be taken up and protests lodged with, as it was later suggested in an amendment, the Associated Chambers ol Commerce. In seconding the motion. Mr. H. H. Do Costa said the Government should not be allowed to take the bull by the horns every time and get away with it. Mr. M. W. Howe opposed the motion on the grounds that taking up sides in a political issue of this kind would be detrimental to the best interests of the chamber. Its present good position and the support it enjoyed in the community would be jeopardised. Mr. J. C. Graham stated that farmers were vitally interested in the question. He suggested that it might be more advisable to allow the appiopriate farming bodies to take the action. Representing Farmers’ Interests Mr. Dear said that the chamber represented not only the business community of the district, but also the farmers. The chamber should take up the cudgels on the farmers' behalf, as it had done for the business men m other questions. The secretary, Mr. M. J. White, pointed out that a ruling from the Associated Chambers of Commerce forbade individual chambers taking up matters of this description with the Government direct. Any representations should be submitted to the Association Chambers first. Action on the lines as first suggested would be in contravention of the rules. , , ~ , ~ Se.veral members thought that as the chamber had become closely associated wUh the movement to oppose the State taking conirol of the Bank of New Zealand, it could surely take action in a matter of parallel political interest. Mr Dear’s motion was approved by a good'majority. It read: “This district, recognising lhat the progress of the Dominion is dependent upon the development of the rural areas, views with alarm the proposal to amend the electoral law by the abolition of the country quota, which will result in the centralisation of political power in the mam centres, to the inevitable detriment of the outlying areas.”