DAIRY INDUSTRY

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 280, 10 November 1934, Page 8

DAIRY INDUSTRY

Final Stages of the Bill READ THE THIRD TIME (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Nov. 9. Consideration in committee of the Agriculture (Emergency Powers) Bill was continued in the House of Representatives this afternoon. Mr A. E. Jull (Waipawa, Government) asked if it was intended that any member of the Meat Board, Dairy Control Board or other board might be qualified to be a member of the Agriculture Commission. He contended that the question of marketing was the prime matter before the Dominion. Ho also asked if it was intended to secure the services of a man of London experience accustomed to handling that class of goods. Mr J. A. Nash (Palmerston, Government) said it was a matter of necessity that members of tho Commission should devote full time to the work, thought tho Government should agree to that. Mr A. Harris (Waiteinata, Government) criticised the possibility of n member of an individual board being also a member of tho Commission. That would be highly undesirable. Mr W. J. Polson and Mr C. A. Wilkinson also urged that the Commissioners should not hold other positions. Mr Wilkinson said ho would move an amendment in that direction, making members of the Commission, except the Minister of Agriculture, devote full time to the duty, and provide that they should have no business on their own account or any interest in the business affected by tho Commission. The Hon. C. E. Macmillan said he could not accept Mr Wilkinson’s amendment, as it was too wide. He would rather restore the original clause. Ho was quite prepared to recommend tho House to put that clause back. NOT WIDE ENOUGH. Mr J. A. Nash (Palmerston, Government) said that the original clause was not wide enough, as a director of a dairy factory could bo a member of the Commission. Tho Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon G. W. Forbes, said he knew of no members of a board that put private business before that of the board.

Mr F. Langstone (Waimarino, Labour): Tho Government Directors on the Bank of New Zealand. Mr Forbes denied that that was so. He said it would be suicidal for any member of tho Commission to retain interests in any concern affected by it. If tho Minister was outvoted, or if members of the Commission abused their position and he reported to Cabinet, their powers could be taken away by Order-in-Council, so that tho Minister was all powerful. Tho short title was carried by 37 vote to 26. Mr Macmillan agreed to retain tho original sub-clause 6 of clause 3 with the consequential amendment exempting the Minister of Agriculture, and Mr Wilkinson moved an amendment as previously indicated to that sub-clause. Mr Wilkinson’s amendment was lost by 35 votes to 27, and the original clause as amended was carried. On clause 13 Mr A. G. Stallworthy (Eden, Independent) moved to reduce the number of Government nominees on the Dairy Board to one, instead of three. The amendment was lost by 54 votes to 7. The committee stages were completed, and the Bill was read tho third time and passed.