Sale and Price of Honey, Eggs, Fruit etc. To Be Controlled

Northern Advocate, 2 December 1937, Page 8

Sale and Price of Honey, Eggs, Fruit etc. To Be Controlled

Wide Powers Contained In Amendment Bill “The Latest Idea From Moscow,” Says Mr. Poison f Per Press Association. Copyright .l , WELLINGTON. This Day. TMPOKTANT PROPOSALS TO CONTROL THE MARKETING OF FOOD- * STUFFS WITHIN THE DOMINIO N ARE CONTAINED IN THE PRIMARY PRODUCTS MARKETING AMENDMENT BILL. WHICH WAS INTRODUCED BY GOVERNOR-GENERAL’S MESSAGE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES LAST NIGHT. The Bill provides for the subdivision of the Primary Products Marketing Department into the Dairy Produce Export Division and the Internal Marketing Division. Full powers are given for fixing the prices and conditions of sale for dairy produce, fruit, honey, eggs and any other foodstuffs specified from time to time by Order-in-Council. The Bill makes provision for the appointment of' directors of the two separate divisions of the department, and there is also power for the setting up of further divisions if they arc required, each to be under the control of a director.

Directors of Divisions. With respect to the existing organisation, Mr C. A. Duncan is to hold office as director of the Dairy Export Division, and Mr F. N. Picot will be director of the Internal Marketing Division. Authority is given for the appointment of officers to deputise for directors where necessary, and for the delegation by the Minister of the powers which ho holds under the principal Act. Necessary amendments ai’e made with regard to the manner in which the functions of the department are to be exercised. The most important part of the Bill gives the department power to fix prices for dairy produce, fruit, honey, eggs and any other foodstuffs prescribed by Order-in-Council. Prices may be fixed in respect of any defined district or locality, or for the whole of New Zealand, and they may refer to either the wholesale or retail prices at which any foodstuff's covered by the legislation may bo bought or cold. Margins May Be Fixed. In addition, margins may be fixed within which the foodstuffs concerned may be bought or sold, and general conditions may be laid down to govern the sales.

export if it is required for local consumption. However, If export prices have been fixed, these prices must apply in future. It will not be accessary for a Gazette notice to be published concerning the taking over of dairy produce by the department, prior to shipment. A new clause in the Bill provides that notice must be given in writing to the owner of the dairy produce.

Prices May be Varied. Export or local prices for dairy produce fixed for any ono season, or for any specified period, may now be varied from time to time by Order-in-Council. Any variation increasing the price to be paid for dairy produce may be made to operate retrospectively in respect to prices to be paid 'ey the department, but will not be retrospective with regard to prices paid by any other person. No variation reducing the price for dairy produce will apply in cases where the higher prices have already been paid, or where there is a definite prior obligation to pay the higher price. To Prevent Improper Handling. It is also provided that regulations may be made for the purpose of preventing damage to, or deterioration of, any foodstuffs caused by v improper packing or handling in the course of transit from producer' to consumer. The Minister of Finance stated that the Bill extended to the list of products that could bo handled by the Internal Marketing Department, honey, fruit, eggs and other foodstuffs. Mr H. S. S. Kyle (Oppsn.. Riccarton): Are cabbages included?

Margins may be fixed as maximum prices and minimum prices, or by reference to the amounts or percentages by which the selling prices may exceed the buying prices. There is a requirement that the prices, margins oi conditions of sale fixed by the department must be notified to the persons directly affected. Penalties For Breach of Act. The principal Act imposes a penalty for the sale of dairy produce except at the fixed prices. This provision, with its penalties ranging from £2OO in the case of an individual to £IOOO in the case of a company or corporation, is extended to cover the sales of other foodstuffs now to be brought under the legislation. The Bill states that, in order to secure an economic and orderly marketing in New Zealand of any foodstuffs to which the legislation applies, regulations may bo made, if necessary, authorising the department to take at fixed prices any of the foodstuffs concerned and to export the quantity which is not required for local consumption. Regulations may also be made authorising the department to control the export of foodstuffs by any other person, or authority. There is provision for the appointment of advisory committees to assist the department in its operations. | Account At Reserve Bank.

Mr Nash: No. Mr K. J. Holyoako (Oppsn.. Motueka): Vogotables? Mr Nash: There is no provision for vegetables. The Hoin J. G. Coafes (Oppsn.. Kaipara): Then why not say so straight out? He continued that he could not remember a time when an important measure of this nature had been introduced in such a manner, with not the slightest indication being given of the nature of the contents of the Bill. Did it deal with dairy produce? “Minister Shuffling.” Mr Nash: It takes other powers not in connection with dairy produce. Mr Coates contended that the Minister was shuffling. The House was entitled to an explanation. The country wanted to know if this was another step to the complete socialisation of distribution and exchange. Was this a complete final step by the ! Government to enter into exchange i ' and distribution? Of all explanations, could one imagine one more incomplete or misleading than that given by the Minister? With regard to the provision? re- ■ J garding the Reserve Bank, he took it ■ that tho Minister would clear up the position insofar as it would be pos- ; sible for tho Reserve Bank to bo used for financing die internal marketing i position. He took it that some person was going to take an active part in internal marketing. Mr Nash.: No. Fruit to Come Under Measure. Mr Holyoake said he was very interested in the marketing of fruit, and j asked if fruit would come under the measure. Mr Nash; Fruit will come in. Mr Holyoake: Is the power sufficiently wide to include the control of fruit grading? Mr Nash; There is no provision in the Bill for it, and none so far as I know in the original Act. but if grading makes for orderly marketing, then power is conferred under the Bill. However, I will look the matter up. j

The Internal Marketing Division is to have a separate account at the Reserve Bank, with the same overdraft provisions which apply in the case of the Dairy Industry Account. This borrowing authority for the Internal Marketing Division is made , retrospective to September 20, 1937. All moneys derived from the operations of the division are to be paid into Hie Internal Marketing Account and payments from the account are authorised for the following purposes: Acquisition of foodstuffs or other commodities, charges in respect of freight, insurance, storage or marketing, in-j forest due to the Reserve Bank on any overdraft, and administrative expenses. Payments are to bo authorised out of the Dairy Industry Account nr the Internal Marketing Account for the purpose of equalising returns from] dairy produce or oilier commodities, etc. Authority to Make Adjustments. Authority is given for the Minister of Finance to make adjustments Between the Dairy Industry Account and' the Internal Marketing Account. Arlangements with regard, to payments to and from the Dairy Industry Account are to bo the same as those laid down. Governing the Internal Mar- , keting Account there is a special provision by which dairy produce acquired for export may be withheld from

Mr S. G. Holland. (Oppsn, Christchurch North) remarked that if vegetables, fruit and other foodstuffs were concerned, what about confectionery? Was the Government going to lake control of retail shops and of hotels? A Labour interjection: And beer. Mr Holland: Yes, beer, whatever that may be. (Laughter,)

1 Was it going to control restaurants? (In fact, it seemed that the Government was going to control the whole 1 show. Method of Controlling Prices? What arrangements were to bo made if suppliers were to find that the prices were going to be fixed without making provision for suitable remuneration for them? Mr Broadioot asked if this was n method of controlling all products off the farms, or was it another method of controlling prices—keeping prices down in the towns at the expense of the farmers? If so, the farmers should be informed at once. Mr Coates: This attempt of the Minister to stay casually in the background and answer questions with a contemptuous monosyllabic ‘yes’ or ‘no’ is a slight on His Majesty’s Opposition, It is the first time in my long experience of the House in which I have seen a Minister completely ignoring grave questions asked in a proper manner, This is something new. Is there something sinister behind it? Mr W. J. Poison (Opposition—Stratford): This is the latest Moscow idea. Mr Coates; If the Minister refuses to answer, the people are entitled to assume that the Government is going to adopt steam-roller tactics. Called To Order, The Hon. W. E. Parry, Minister of Internal Affairs: You are the last man who should say that. The Chairman of Committees. Mr E. J. Howard: Order. There must be no interjections when a Governor-Gen-eral's message is being discussed. Mr Coates: I thank you Mr Chairman for your protection. Mr Nash said he had replied to all questions as they had been asked. He repeated his initial statement that the Bill extended to the list of products that could be handled by the Internal Marketing Department, honey, fruit, eggs and other foodstuffs. With regard to fruit grading, ho repealed his assurance that lie would inquire into the matter. The Bill would bo ready in five minutes after it passed the first reading and- members would have an opportunity to peruse it. An explanation would bo given on • the second reading. 1 The Bill was read the first time. j