AGRICULTURE BILL

Northern Advocate, 10 November 1934, Page 9

AGRICULTURE BILL

PASSED BY HOUSE REFUSAL TO HOLD OVER DAIRY INDUSTRY CONTROL V “PLAYTHING OF POLITICS” [Per Press Association.—Copyright! WELLINGTON, This Day. The Agriculture (Emergency Powers) Bill was considered in the House of Representatives yesterday <in - committee. : . . .Cw ,-.’ •The Hon. C. E. Macmillan, Minister of Agriculture, introduced a number of amendments, the principal, of which was one increasing the membership of, the Commission of Agriculture tq four and appointing' the Minister as” chairman. - • On the. Short' Title,' the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. M. J. Savage, said he could not see any alteration in’|hd principle at all. It was simply follow-' ing the example of the Unemployment Board. The Minister would neV6£ occupy-the chair, and the deputy chairman would be able to‘ wander round the country as he liked. ; Mr. Savage said he was not averse front reorganisation of the industry, but what was wanted was financial assistance for those who could not meet their bills now. ; i, i ].

Mr. C. A. Wilkinson (Independent^ 1 Egmbnt) said there was no‘ immediate need for the present bill, as it did’hof' provide financial assistance for v ..the. farmers. The full Would' gniy;; ; loas them with further trouble.’ Tlie appointment of the Minister as of the commission would have’-iatfjetf feet, as other members' hvei*? ride him. The appointment 'df/rnfemi 1 bers for five years withoutof recall was monstrous. He hsked; tne Government to hold’the bill as! it was too momentous j -to; ■ be';jput through .on the last day Of the session? 1 'Mr. W. J. Poison (Independent ll Stratford) said the industry’s.- ‘ ;; !first call was for immediate relief, blit he thought he could say the industry was anxious for reorganisation,: The bill did not meet with.the general disapproval of the men in -ths industry, except those in the Auckland districtThe bill was eflectual. to control, mgr,-, keting and - secure better, trading/ arrangements, ■ ; Power Taken Away.,! . -.■ < .Mr. W. Nash (Lgbourr-Hutt),, v .said he was opposed to members :of ; ;the Commission Of Agriculture ’ being' allowed to occupy. other .positions; Under the present clause, Mr., !W, Gopclfellow, Sir William Hunt! / and . 'tfjfcjlp. Jones could be appointed do ..the cphvr. mission. He, asked, was taking away the power of ! r ,/tlie board to control the transport of tpilk and cream. The Hon. A. D. McLeod (Government—Wairarapa) said unless some; co-ordination-in handling produce took place, then . the . whole, thing ! could be made the plaything of politics, as it had been, and was being, made, in. the House that day, , Mr, A. J. Stallworthy (Independent —Eden) said if the Government found it necessary, to-postpone, the. Mortgage Corporation legislation,, .which /.would , give immediate.-financial -.assistance ip farmers, why not postpone, the. present bill,, so as to give* dairy farmers,. ,a reasonable opportunity to; expressman opinion on it. - ; .7; - .!••!;; Mr. W. A. JVeitch.,._. (Independent— Wanganui) said to; the bill were so objectionable that he did not propose to. vote-for it.-..i1-KrA Mr, F. Lahgstone,: (Labour—!WaimarinO) • said although the Minister,- .as chairman of thecommissionA -would provide a connecting .-link .AWith vPar-, liament, he -didmot ’See-rhO^bis.; pies- ' ence would make any - difference if-the; other three members,'.putr.their? heads, together against him. Mr H. G. Dickie .(Governm.entTnPatea) asked if the Commissioner:‘oft Agriculture was . going, to be . oyer, v theDairy Division.’ ; Mr A. Harris (Government-Waite-mata) criticised the possibility of a member of an individual produce board also being a member of the ; Commission. That would be highly undesirable. - ■ ■ - Full-time Duties, j i Mr Wilkinson said h<a. wpuM.mpypjm amendment in .the! direction of making members of the commission; .except the * Minister of Agriculture^,. deitofd •: ./jfiiJl; time to that duty, and providing'' e tiiat' they should have no’business ,oh -fugir' own accounf/or any iriterest,:ijl''S,ls!hsiness affected by the Commi#iohf‘‘ 1 ;, ! T Mr Macmillan said he could cept Mr Wilkinson’s because it was too wide. ■' ■.He;wphld r rather restore the originai/cldtfse; :ptxd was quite prepared to recommend'the , House to put. that clause ‘ back;' :! • The Prime Minister, Mr.Forbes, ; ;kaid he did not know members of-knj"b'ohrd that put their private business before that of the board. * .

Mr Langstone: “The Government directors on the bank , of New Zealand.’' Mr Forbes denied "that' that was so. He said it would be suicidal, for any member of the commission- ; to ; retain his interest in any concern affected';b3r it. Members would be’ tdb : question. If the members of the ,Cotnmission abused their position; an<f .the Minister reportedcto the Gabiheti-their powers' could be taken away by.Order-in-Council,; so ’the Minister; wais-'‘all-powerful. . 1‘ 4 . Read a Third Tiihe. Xi ' . The ;■ short 1 title whs carried by l 37?

votes to 26." . . ' J ’ 'v '■ Mr Wilkinson moved his amendment as previously indicated, but this .was ■lost by 35 votes to 27, and the original clause was'carried; Mr. Stallworthy moved to reduce the number of Government nominees ~oh the -Dairy' Board-to one' instead t'ofthree. The amendment was lost by‘-54-to:7. • The committee stages were obmplefeaand the bill was read; a third time and passed. -