DAIRYING CONTROL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19391, 28 July 1926, Page 14

DAIRYING CONTROL.

THE NEW BILL APPEARS. WARD SYSTEM INTRODUCED. COMPULSION NOT AFFECTED. NO PARTY ISSUE INVOLVED. Or TELEGRAPH.—-SPECIAL REPORTER. ] W EI.LI NGTO N. Tuesd ay. The Dairy Produce Export Control Amendment Bill appeared in the House of Representatives this afternoon. The Bill, which was road a first time, provides for the election of producers' representatives upon the hoard by a ward system of voting, in which individual suppliers have one vote each, and these votes determine the exercise by dairy companies of the votes allotted to them on a tonnage basis. The compulsory powers of the original Act are riot interfered with. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. H. E. Holland, asked for some information as to' the details of the bill, particularly with respect to compulsion. The Hon. 0. J. Havvken: The bill deals with two or three points, but does not interfere in any way with the compulsory clauses of the main bill. A Labour Member: Ah, ah! Mr. Hawken: It- makes provision for two or three oversights in the main bill, one dealing with the expenses of the election of the board, another dealing With the London Board and the salaries of members. The main provision, however, is the method, of election of the board. The bill provides for wards, and the schedule of the bill sets out the wards, and it also provides the method of voting for the different wards. Mr. Holland: What is the method? Mr. Hawken: It is a double method, for the single vote and the tonnage basis. Differences of Opinion. Mr. W. A. Veitch (Wanganui) said there was a great deal of difference of opinion among members of the dairying community and among thc<;o interested in dairy produce as to what course ought to be pursued. There had been a strong agitation and pressure had been brought to bear in favour and against compulsion. His question was whether the Leader of the House would make this a party question or leave his side free to vote as they thought fit ? In the event of any member of the House moving, an amendment to the bill which would have the effect of postponing compulsion would that be made a party issue or would the members of the Government Party be given a free hand ? The matter was one of such grave importance to the country that it should be considered apart from party. Those members in favour of a postponement of compulsion were extremely anxious to know the attitude of the Prime Minister on the question raised. If it was not made a party question the decision which was come to would be a decision of a majority of the members of the House.

Freedom of Members. Mr. Coates replied that he was not quite sure of the nature of the question. As he. understood the bill there was no proposal to postpone the effect of the main Act. It concerned voting. As far as the Government Party was concerned, many of the members were pledged in different ways. He did not want any member to be put into a wrong position, so he did not see how this could be made a party question. He had no intention of asking members who had given pledges to put themselves into an awkward position with their constituents. Members must use their own judgment on matters which came up under the bill. Mr. veitch: That would mean on an amendment to postpone ? Mr. Coates: Of course. I have not had notice of such an amendment. As to the bill generally, that is the only reasonable attitude I can take up. " It has never been made a party question. Does that answer the honourable gentleman's question ?

, Mr. Veitch: Thank you, it does. Mr. Holland: The only time when it will become a party question is when the Labour ; Party moves an amendment. Mr. Coates: Not necessarily. I hope we shall never be so short-sighted as not to take anything good the Labour Party have.

Air. J. A. Nash expressed regret that the bill was one that would not "give universal satisfaction. A Voice: Nothing will do that. Notice of Amendment. Mr. Nash said he would takfe advantage of an opportunity to give notice of an amendment to alter the system of voting with a view to making it more equitable. He favoured the individual direct vote and ' not the vote through directorates. Under the latter system, if 45 per cent, of the shareholders were opposed to a candidate they would have no representation at all. In addition to moving an amendment in that direction, lie intended to move one to postpone compulsion.

Mr. Coates (laughing): Better hurry up, The bill might be on the order paper to morrow.

Another Minister: And high up, too. Mr. Nash assured the Government ho would not be late. He thought the information which had been made available through the press should satisfy the House of the positioh in England. The observations of Mr. Poison would cause members to stop and think before allowing the board to exercise the compulsory powers of the Act.

Sir Joseph Ward said he did not intend to fight this bill or to try to strangle the wish of the majority of the House. However, he considered the proposed compulsion wrong in spirit' and a bad thing, an indication of the worst kind of bolsbelvism ever introduced into any Parliament, in the world. He believed the Meat Board had been well managed. Several Members: Question!

Sir Joseph Ward: I am not in favour of compulsion for the Meat Board, but like a wise body they never exercised it.

After further discussion the bill was read a first time.

DANGERS OF THE STREET. AVOIDING ACCIDENTS. INSTRUCTION FOR CHILDREN. [by telegraph-—special reporter.] ' "WELLINGTON. Tuesday. The advisability of teaching school children 'how to cross streets without colliding with some portion of the vehicular traffic was mentioned in the House today by Sir John Luke, who drew attention to the recent remarks of Mr. E. Page, S.M., on the subject. The Hon.. R. A. Wright, Minister of Education, said oddly enough children were not as - frequently injured as adults Were in street accidents, but the necessity foir instruction was obvious. \\ hile he was loath to impose further duties on teachers he proposed to bring this matter under the notice of the Headmasters' Association and ask if they could arrange for the teachers to give some instruction. He knew that in many of the accidents the drivers of vehicles were to blame, but in some cases the fault lay with the pedestrians. He was sure that if the matter was put to them in a proper way the teachers would do what they could,