CONTROL OF DAIRYING

Northern Advocate, 10 November 1934, Page 8

CONTROL OF DAIRYING

The Agriculture (Emergency Powers) Bill was read a third time and passed by the House of .Representatives last evening. The House was sharply divided, and it may be taken for granted that this division will mark public opinion of the Bill, which, in its amended form, is a very emasculated edition of the legislation originally brought down by the Government, and which was modelled on the recommendations of the Dairy Commission. The Government was insistent that the Dairy Commission’s re commendations, especially the provision of financial aid to dairyfarmers, should be put into effect, but, the opposition _ raised to,,the second reading evidently convinced 1 Cabinet that any attempt' to force the Bill through iwould bring about defeat of: the Government. The Finance Minister promised that important amendments would be made in committee, and, presumably on that understanding, the Bill was given its second reading and an amendment moved by the Leader of the Opposition was defeated. The Bill, as amended, provides that the Supreme Council, or Executive Commission, shall consist. of four members, instead of three, the Minister of Agriculture being the chairman. This is a concession to those who objected to the divorcement of the State from the control of the dairying industry, but it is doubtful avli ether the association of the Minister of Agriculture will mean more than nominal State responsibility. The constitution' of the .Executive Commission remains a sore point, and it is sure to be vigorously discussed. It is provided that the members of the commission, two of whom shall have been engaged in the indiistry, may take part in other paid occupations. The original-Bill'■provided that the work of the commission should be a full-time engagement for its members. The House was fairly evenly divided as to the wisdom of the new clause, an amendment by Mr Wilkinson to the effect that members of the commission should not be eligible for other employment being defeated by 35 .votes to 27. We ai*c decidedly of the opinion that if a Supreme Council is established its members, apart from beingmen eminently qualified, by experience and training, for their vtask, should be placed in a position analogous to that of a Supreme. Court Judge, who, by the terms of his appointment, is clothed with independence and put beyond the possibility of influence by interested parties. If any grounds,should exist for suspicion that the Executive Commission might be influenced by organisations with which members were associated, the commission will be of less than no value. The amended Bill makes provision for strengthening the existing control boards, the powers of which shall not be transferred to the commission except after consultation between the commission add the board affected. In a.number of important aspects the Bill has limited the provisions of the original measure for the internal reorganisation of the industry, and the proposed method of immediately supplying financial aid to dairyfarmers is dropped. The Bill as passed by the House of Representatives is obviously a compromise, and, like compromises generally, it will fail to give satisfaction.