CONTENTIOUS BILL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 295, 10 November 1934, Page 7

CONTENTIOUS BILL.

THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.

MEASURE GOES THROUGH,

(By Telegraph.-—Special to Standard.) V “ WELLINGTON, Nov. 9. The House of Representatives devoted the whole of the day’s sitting to the Commtitee proceedings on the Agricultural (Emergency Powers) Bill and hardly anything else was discussed but the Executive Commission, which now comprises the Minister of Agncultuie and three others appointed by the Government. Two prominent arguments were Labour’s contention that nothing was being done to give immediate assistance to the dairy farmer, and JYLr C. A. Wilkinson’s demand that provision he made to ensure that members of the Executive Commission devoted their whole energy to the task and that they had no outside financial interests. . , The Government got its way, except that pressure from both sides caused the reinsertion of the clause which had been dropped providing that 4 ‘no member of the Commission shall be engaged in any paid employment other than as a member of the Commission. 4 ms, however, did not go as far as Mr \Y llkinson desired, and he moved an amendment to ensure that no member of the Commission took part in business on his own account or had any interest in any business affected by the Commission. On going to a vote this was defeated by 35 votes to 2(. Mr A. J. Stallworthy’s endeavour to have only one Government nominee on the Commission failed by 54 votes to 7 ' The only other division in the House was at the end. of the general discussion on the title, when the House affirmed the principles of the measure by 35 votes to 27 ,It was a jaded House that, at 4.35 p.m., saw the end of the Committee proceedings and twenty-five imnutes sufficed for the third reading, when Mr M J Savage reiterated his constant declaration that the farmer should be on the same basis as most other people with a guaranteed income. “The farmer gets nothing out or tne Bill,” declared Mr Savage. “He might think he is getting somethmg because we have established a ‘Big Three’ with the shadow of the Minister as cliairm The Bill was described by Mr W. J. Poison as -an improvement. The mortgagors’ relief legislation was saving dairy farmers from being dispossessed, but lie again urged tlie importance of financial relief, otherwise .the industry would die and thousands of men would be unemployed. Hli- A. D. McLeod referred to cries outside the House that the Bill was rank Socialism. He was a believer m the capitalistic system, but if Socialism was forced on the country it would come through those who refused to adapt the capitalistic system to modern conditions. _ , , , Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes also countered the Socialism objection by referring to international conditions which demanded that Governments must make agreements for international tiade. There was no intention to take over any industry or operate wliat might be termed Socialistic measures Hon. C. E. Macmillan, reminded the House that the dairy industry itself had demanded reorganisation. It has been down on its bended, knees to ask that something be done.”. The financial relief required was contained m other measures and a- particularly big one would be brought down next session. Without a division the Bill was passed.