POWERS TO BE MODIFIED

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 287, 1 November 1934, Page 6

POWERS TO BE MODIFIED

AGRICULTURAL EMERGENCY BILL WOOL-BROKERS INTERVIEW MINISTERS. (Bv Telegraph.—Special to Standard.) WELLINGTON, Oct.. 31. Modifications are to be made in the Agricultural (Emergency Powers) Bui when it reaches the Committee stage. This announcement was made by the Minister of Finance (Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates), who spoke for over an hour in the House to-night. It was assumed from his remarks that the changes will be to define more particularly the Executive Commission’s powers and to exclude from its operations classes, who desire this to be done. . Mr Coates stated that during the day lie and the Prime Minister and the Minister of Agriculture had been interviewed by representatives of the wool brokers who had said there were powers for the council to take oyer the marketing of wool. “All I have to say,” continued Mr Coates, “is that the powers are there for the puipose of any industry that may ask to take advantage of that organisation, but we are quite prepared to exclude all those people not already covered by legislation and include them only at their request.” The Minister declared there was not the slightest intention of interfering with a single soul unless he wished it. It had been said that tlie seed merchants and potato growers might be mixed up in the regulations. That was entirely wrong, and, if members of the House wished, a s:mple amendment could be included to sty that those interests, singly or collectively, were exempt from the measure unless they specially asked for it. Mr A. M. Samuel: Would that curtail the powers of the “Big Three,?” “The ‘Big Three’,” retorted Mr Coates in a tone of disgust. “That’s a fine thing to talk about as propaganda to prevent things being done; propaganda all right from the political viewpoint, but the position is far too serious to allow catchwords to influence the decisions Pnvliament is called on to make.” . ' , Mr Coates emphatically declared that the Commission would have no power unless the Government gave it to them. The present boards had powers which they had allowed to remain latent. The first duty of this Commission would be to get into close touch with the existing boards and find how far they would like to go and give them every assistance to face their problems. THE FARMER’S OBLIGATIONS. The Minister dealt specifically with the question of what obligations would be tnrown on the farmer by the new legislation. The farmers knew there was room for an improvement in the equipment to supply a wholesome commodity, but was it wise to poke one’s head in the sand and say nothing could be done ? \v as it. not wise, as a matter of national policy, to make it possible that farmers could provide the most wholesome commodity ? Mr W. J. Roison: The industry will take no exception to that. Mr Coates pointed out that three suppliers out of fifty could, by unsatisfactorily conditions, spoil the whole supply. There were areas where the water supply was unsatisfactory and it was said the farmers could not afford to pay for an improvement. “But through their organisaation the Government will place at their disposal money to make these improvements,” the Minister continued. Mr D. McDougall: Given free? Mr Coates replied that the Government could not provide the funds for nothing, but it could at least place those men in a position in which their industry would benefit. “We are not going to place on the farmer a load lie cannot carry.”

Mr Poison: We want to take the load off the farmer.

Mr Coates: It is possible to meet the position much more satisfactorily than you suggest. The Minister later returned to the financial points, referring to the suggestions that interest rates should be arbitrarily reduced. “I think,” he declared, “that it would be dangerous and a disservice if the Government arbitrarily fixed the rate of interest to-day. I believe the market rate should be paid, whatever it is, but we must make sure the farmer is getting it. The farmer is paying far in excess of what we want. We want to give him an opportunity of getting money.”

Mr A. S. Richards: It is regulated by the banks. Mr Coates: No. I sincerely trust the banks will be able to play an iinoortant part. We don’t belong to the* pricefixing school unless the public interest is being definitely jeopardised. Another declaration of the Minister on the same subject later was: It is not the intention of the Government to ride roughshod across the investing public or the existing organisations that are finding money for tne farmers and business generally. As for the suggestion lieiird in the debate that farmers’ interest be reduced to 3 per cent., Mr Coates declared the Government would not agree to it, but the Mortgage Corporation legislation which was being prepared would give a feeling of security to investors which would make cheap money available for the farmers. * REBATE ON RATES.

The previously published, report that the farmers are to receive rating relief this year was confirmed. Mr “Coates announced that it had been decided that a rebate on rates would be given The amount would be only 12) per cent., but it would be of assistance to the farmers.