CONTROL BOARD

Northland Age, Volume 25, Issue 14, 30 July 1925, Page 7

CONTROL BOARD

KAURI GUM INDUS IRY. The Kauri Gum Control Bill, which has passed its second read- & ing in the House is much on the lines of other control enactments which already are on the Statute Book. The Bill establishes a Kauri *Tjum Control Board consisting of two Government representatives, one of whom shall be an expert in the handling, grading and marketing of gum, one representative of the exporters, not being a person engaged directly or indirectly in the gum trade, and two producers’ representatives. The producers’ representatives are elective and the gum area is to be divided into two snb-divisions, each one of which will elect its representatives. The chairman of the Board will be one of the ' Government representatives. The Board will have power to appoint overseas agents, power , to impose conditions as to the export of kauri gum and power to assume control of the gum. Levies are to be made and the Board may give a subsidy over kauri gum to secure advances made for the benefit of owners. The Board shall at the request in writing of the Minister, realise to the best advantage by way of •lb sal e in New Zealand or elsewhere Til gum the’property of the Crown acquired in the exercise of its poweK. and shall pay the proceed/less the expense, into the Kaun Gum Industry Account. The Hon. A. D. McLeod, Minister of Lands, in a reference to the Bill, said that for some time the Lands Department had entered into the gum business in a trading way, and a good deal of dissatisfaction had been expressed at the Department’s method of carrying on the work. The Department was not anxious to do more of this kind of thing than was desirable. The idea of the Bill was to set up a form of control and he proposed to move later that a select committee be appointed to go into the matter and take evidence before the Bill was finally dealt wtth the House. % PRODUCERS’ MEET.

A meeting of the N. W. Kauri Producers’ Association was held in the International Hall, Dargarville, on the 18th inst., when Mr. P. Meisich, President, presided over a fair attendance. Mr. Meisich said that on February 11 th, 1925, he convened a meeting of Kauri gum producers at Redhili for the purpose of considering the various clauses in the proposed Kauri Gum Control Bill. The meeting was well attended and each clause carefully considered. Two alterations were considered desirable in the interests of the producers. Portion of section 3, which provides for two producers represen■ttiyes did not meet with the apof the meeting, and it was V; 1 to/Uk the Minister of numb-r to tom for'ihe.prc-dacers. Section 4 sub-section I, which provides'that persons holding the gum licenses for the year on wliMth the poll is taken, did not meet with the approval of the meeting, and it was decided to ask that his clause be amended by adding the words, and for the year previous to the poll. In the event of these alterations being agreed to by the Minister, the clause of dealing with a quorum of the board would need to be altered tobring it into conformity. The Bill has now been referred to a Select Parliamentary Committee before parties interested may give evidence, and Mr. Bell has written all Kauri Gum Producers Associations advising them that there will be strong opposition to the Bill outside Parliament and urging them to send strong delegates with a practical knowledge of the industry t<) give evidence. He wishes it to<De clearly understood that everybody desiring to do so may give evidence. He suggests that names be forwarded to him in Wellington at an early date, in order that he may arrange a conference of delegates before meeting the committee.