DAIRY EXPORT FOOL.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 2234, 21 September 1922, Page 5

DAIRY EXPORT FOOL.

MAY EARLY BECOME LAW LEGISLATION NOW BEING PREPARED. NO FINANCIAL GUARANTEE. (Prom Our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Last Night. This session proposals for a dairy pool for New Zealand, which were adopted by the recent conference, have been placed before the Pr.me Minister and Minister of Agriculture, who have instructed me Crown Law draftsman to prepare legislation. Members who are closely interested in this movement consider that, as the measure will follow the lines of the Meat Export Control Act, it will be acceptable to the majority of the House, and coula be passed in a short time, although A- preparation might take several weeks. One important point of difference between the meat control measure and that relating to daa’y produce is that the latter bill will not provide for a Government financial guarantee. This makes its course easier through Cabinet, also through the House, therefore the prospect of securing a passage this session is a good one. HYDRO-ELECTRIC RATES. MINISTER DEFENDS POOLING SYSTEM, (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 20. Cantei’bury members showed by their lively questioning of the Minister for Public Works to-day their strong objection to the proposed flat rate charge for State hydro-electricity throughout New Zealand. Their contention is that Lake Coleridge might possibly, as it is paying its way, have to bear part of tne burden of some unremunerative scheme. The matter was first raised by Mr. Masters (Stratford) who asked if the system of accounts for hydro-electric-ity would follow the same plan os the Railway and Postal Departments which regarded their charges and capital accounts as one for the whole Dominion, the charge for power being cade ■ irrespective of locality so that a customer in the North Island may obtain current at the same price as a customer in the South Island. Hon. J. G. Coates declared that there was no secret about the standard rate. It provided for payment of interest, sinking fund, depreciation, and working expenses of the State schemes as provided by Statute. The present rate was not fixed for all time as the State would give consumers the benefit of cheaper rates if it made more than would cover expenses.

.As indicated, this reply was not satisfactory to Canterbury members. They asked if Lake Coleridge would have to bear the burden of any losses elsewhere. The Minister retorted with a quei-y: “Suppose Mangahao is paying and Lake Coleridge is not?” He declared that Lake Coleridge was just moving along with nothing to boast about. H paid working expenses, interest and sinking fund, but not depreciation, though he thought it would eventually pay well. While the Christchurch City Council in drawing power from Lake Coleridge had made a profit of £28,000, the State in the meantime had accumulated losses on Laue Coleridge totalling £72,000.