AGRICULTURAL BILL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 295, 10 November 1934, Page 8

AGRICULTURAL BILL

TWO AMENDMENTS DEFEATED. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Nov. 9. The House of Representatives resumed consideration of the Agricultural Bill at 2.30 p.m. Mr A. E. Jull asked if it was intended that any member of the Meat Board, the 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. He 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 said it was a matter of necessity that members of the Commission should devote their full time to the work. He thought the Government should agree to that. Mr A. Harris criticised the possibility of a member of an individual board being also a member of the Commission. That would be highly und<Mraw!’ J> Poison and Mr C. A. Wilkinson also urged that the commissioners should not hold other positions. Mr Wilkinson said he would move an amendment in the direction of making members of the Commission, except the Minister for Agriculture, devote their full time to the duty and providing they should have no business on their own account or any interest in the business affected by the Commission. 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 and was quite prepared to recommend that the House put that clause back. Mr J. A. Nash said the original clause was not wide enough, as a director of a dairy factory could be a member of the Commission.

Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes said he did not know of any member of a board who put private business before that of the board.

Mr F. Langstone: How about the directors on the Bank of New Zealand?

Mr Forbes denied that was so, and said it would be suicidal for any member of the Commission to retain interests in any concern affected by it. If the Minister was outvoted, or if members of the Commission abused their position and he reported this to Cabinet, their powers could be taken away by Order-in-Council, so that the Minister was all-powerful. The short title was carried by 37 votes to 26.

Air Macmillan agreed to retain the original sub-clause six of clause three with a 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. J. Stallworthy 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 seven.

The Committee stages were completed and the Bill read the third time and passed.

OTHER BILLS.

FILM INDUSTRY MEASURE

PASSED

The Cinematograph Films Amendment Bill was put through Committee, read the third time and passed to-day. The Companies (Bondholders Incorporation) Bill was introduced by Gov-ernor-General’s message and read the first time.

The Thames Borough Commissioner Amendment Bill, the Woodlands Drainage Board (Rating) Validation Bill, the Noxious Weeds Amendment Bill, the Auckland Transport Board Empowering Bill, the Wellington City Empowering Bill, and the Native Purposes Bill .were put through the remaining stages and passed. The House adjourned at 6.20 till J 0.30 to-morrow morning.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

AGRICULTURAL BILL GOES THROUGH.

The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Reserves and Other Lands Disposal Bill and the Local Legislation Bill were received from the House of Representatives, read the second time, and referred to Select Committees. The Council then adjourned until ’4.30 p.m. to enable tlie committees to consider the measures, and on resuming passed both Bills without debate. The Council then adjourned until 8 p.m., when the Cinematograph Films Amendment Bill was put through all stages and passed. In moving the second reading of the Agricultural (Emergency Powers) Bill, Hon. R. Masters said the outstanding feature of the Dairy Commission’s report had been its insistence on highest quality in the goods which New Zealand exported. The report also dealt comprehensively with, the question of marketing, which was of the utmost importance. The need for the Bill was generally recognised as a means of helping the dairy farmer out of a difficult position. The Bill was put through all stages and passed. The Noxious W T eeds Amendment Bill, the Native Purposes Amendment Bill and the local Bills passed by the House of Representatives this afternoon were also put through all stages find passed. The Council rose at 11.45.