Clash Over NZ Wheat Deal

Northern Advocate, 6 March 1947, Page 5

Clash Over NZ Wheat Deal

(1.30 p.m.) CANBERRA, This Day. A clash occurred in the House of Representatives when the Deputy Leader of the Country Party (Mr McEwen) requested the Prime Minister (Mr Chifley) “in view of the suspicious circumstances,” to lay on the table of the House all relevant documents, together with an official statement from the Wheat Board, on the part it had played in formulation of •the wheat agreement between Australia and New Zealand. Mr McEwen opened his attack by asking Mr Chifley if he had seen a statement by the former general manager of the Wheat Board stating that the board had never been consulted at any stage. He then asked Mr Chifley to examine the Hansard record of a statement by the former Minister of Agriculture (Mr Scully) that the Wheat Board had been consulted throughout the discussions and Mr Scully’s subsequent Press statement that he could not recall ever having said that the Wheat Board was consulted. CHIFLEY RETICENT The present Minister of Agriculture rose to reply. Mr McEwen raised a point of order that he had addressed his remarks to Mr Chifley. Despite continued challenges Mr Chifley did not rise and the Speaker (Mr Rosevear) ruled that any Minister could refuse at any time to answer a question. Finally he ruled Mr McEwen’s question out of order and called for the next question without notice. Mr Cameron (Lib.) later asked the Prime Minister whether he had entered the wheat negotiations with New Zealand at any stage, or whether he had intervened after the agreement had been negotiated. Mr Chifley replied that the only personal part he had played was when the New Zealand Minister of Commerce (Mr Sullivan) had come to Australia and had mentioned the availability of wheat to New Zealand. After that discussions had been between the Minister in charge of the Department and New Zealand Ministers.