Consulting Growers On Sheep Industry Report

Northern Advocate, 17 August 1949, Page 3

Consulting Growers On Sheep Industry Report

PARLIAMENT...

WELLINGTON, Wed. (P.A.).—The Minister of Agriculture (Mr Cullen), replying in the House of Representatives to the debate on the report of the Sheep Industry Commission, said he had been reproached for not stating the Government’s attitude to the report of the Sheep Industry Commission, but until the producer boards had had an opportunity to express their opinion he did not think it proper to make such a statement. Tthe report was referred to the Government for consideration.

Discussing the South Island high country, the Minister said it. would be very .difficult for a North Islander to farm such country, some of which should perhaps never have been farmed.

It was difficult to see what could be done for some high-country' areas.

Opposition speakers had implied that there was virtually no housing available to farm workers, but that was misrepresentation, although more houses were admittedly needed. The Opposition, in making a case out for the farmers, had suggested that the were poor even today, but that was absurd. “Why this cry of poverty, when the average farmer in this country is not poor, and has not been poor since this Government has been in office?” asked Mr Cullen.

Farmers were finding their share of capital for fertiliser and freezing works established to help them. Some men on marginal land might, however, have little money. BACHELORS Mr Cullen said mustering was a job for bachelors. It always haa been, but there were still plenty of bachelors left in this country Miss Howard, Minister of Health: Where are they?

1948-49, £70,000. The following proceeds from concerts have been credited: 1946-47, £800; 1947-48, £10,000; 1948-49, £4OOO. The last two years Included proceeds of 13 concerts by Isobcl Baillie. The orchestra was used in recent tours of the opera “Carmen” and the Italian grand opera company, but it was not intended to make any charge. Barnes The recent statement by the British Minister of Transport (Mr Alfred Barnes) that if he received an official invitation from the New Zealand Government he would, be very glad to come to New Zealand to make an appeal for a greater spirit of cooperation and understanding on the waterfront was mentioned in the House yesterday. Mr W. A. Sheat (O—Patea), in conjunction with Mr A. S. Sutherland (O—Hauraki) asked the Prime Minister (Mr Fraser) if he intended to issue such an invitation. “It is understood that Mr Alfred Barnes is not related to Mr Harold Barnes,” said tjie questioner.

Mr Cullen said the figure of £SOO a mile for new fencing quoted by the commission was not typical of all parts of New Zealand. He quoted recent instances of fancing on marginal land done at £3lO a mile and £260 a mile, and said in his own experience recently, a mile of fencing had cost £4ll. The commission's report had not put this matter in true perspective. The Minister said he thought there were few farms not producing up to their capacity. Farmers could not afford not to make the most of their pastures. Before the Government would alter the status of the Wool Board it would consult the board and seek the views of the industry, said the Minister. The Wool Board undertook research and other activities which were excellently managed, and the woolgrowers depended on various markets, unlike the butterfat producers, whose market was concentrated ill the United Kingdom.

Wool from New Zealand clips now yielded 870 different wool classes. He did not favour the appointment of a director of the wool industry. There were wool experts in the Department of Agriculture who were doing a good job. CATCHMENT BOARDS Catchment boards had not yet had a fair trial, continued the Minister, and the commission had been premature in recommending their abolition. The Lands Department was already doing many of the jobs for which the commission recommended the appointment of a Marginal Lands Board.

It was a marvel that some farmers on marginal land held on as they did —even working in other occupations to help to get money to assist their farming. Some of the inferior land now farmed in the North Island would probably do better planted in grass. Mr Cullen said the Government was anxious to extend and improve aerial top-dfessing. It was spending money to that end and was considering the purchase of a better type of aircraft than was now available. Orchestra Unauthorised expenditure on the National Symphony Orchestra is commented on by the Controller acid Auditor-General (Mr J. P. Rutherford) in his annual report tabled in Parliament. The Director of Broadcasting has advised the Audit Office that he will bring this to the notice of the Minister of Broadcasting (Mr Jones). The report recalls that when the orchestra was formed in 1946 the Government authorised the director to spend not more than £40,000 a year on it. Gross expenditure in the past three years has been: 1946-47, £20,000 (approximately); 1947-48. £60,000

Mr Fraser, replying, said he thought there was no danger of confusion of identity between the two men. Their name was the same, but their ideas on waterfront work were not. (Mr Harold Barnes is the president of the Waterside Workers’ Union). Invitations were not issued ■in the manner suggested, continued Mr Fraser. If a Minister in New Zealand said he would go to the United Kingdom if invited to do so, people would laugh at him. “You can’t invite yourself to be invited,” said Mr Fraser. He added that he knew Mr Alfred Barnes and admired his able and efficient work as Minister of Transport. "If Mr Attlee says he would like him to come here and speak his mind, we will be glad to extend an invitation,” said the Prime Minister. Insurance A claim that the incidence oi “litigation neurosis,” which affected workers awaiting settlement of claims, had been reduced in Auckland with the taking over of workers’ compensation by the State Fire Insurance Office, was made by Dr A. M. Finlay (G—North Shore). He was taking part in the debate on the Occupational Therapy Bill. Dr Finlay said that it had been rather gloomily predicted that a Government monopoly of this class of insurance would lead to delays. However, the manager of the Auckland branch of the state office had informed him that since the taking over of workers' compensation on April 1, only one case had been referred to solicitors for negotiation. All other cases had been settled by the office, with the result that there were fewer cases of neurosis than when this insurance was in the hands of the companies. Mr M. H. Oram (O—Manawatu): Rubbish! Mr J. R. Marshall (O—Mt Victoria) said that from his experience it was much easier to obtain settlement from private companies. Mr A. G. Osborne <G--Onehunga): Tell us the cases. Ultra-Violet A clause making unlawful the administration of ultra-violet light by anyone not a physiotherapist, a registered nurse or the holder of a certificate issued by the proposed Physiotherapy Board, was deleted from the Physiotherapy Bill by the Public Health Committee of the House of Representatives. This was mentioned by the chairman of the committee. Mr W. T. Anderton. (G —Auckland Central) when the bill was reported back to the House yesterday. He said the committee considered the clause was too far-reaching.