MEAT FOR EXPORT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21882, 18 August 1934, Page 10

MEAT FOR EXPORT

The Slaughtering ''and Inspection Amendment Bill, which has just been introduced, has been referred to the Agricultural Committee. It should be given this measure of consideration before there is any serious proposal to proceed with its enactment. It is to be hoped, also, that all who are likely to be touched by its drastic and far-reaching provisions will realise what is afoot. If quota proposals in Great Britain presently restrict the sale there of New Zealand meat, it may be necessary to institute some measure of control here on slaughtering and export. The prospect is disagreeable, but it may have to be faced. Yet even if it were realised, it would not justify the enormous powers the bill proposes to place in the hands of the Minister of Agriculture, and in his hands only. Take this passage alone, from the summary of the bill"The Minister will be empowered to fix, at any time during the currency of a meat export slaughterhouse licence, the maximum number: of stock, or the maximum number of any class of stock which may be slaughtered. He may obtain a recommendation from the Meat Producers' Board but he will not be obliged to act in accordance with the recommendation." Could there be a simpler or more complete example of full, unfettered, power being placed in the hands of an individual? Subsequent clauses amplify, but do not make any more sweeping, the authority it is thus proposed to confer on the Minister. The reason is simple. They could not. His consent, which ho will have absolute discretion to give or refuse, is to be required before export slaughterhouses can be extended, freezing space increased, or new slaughterhouses built. A phrase becoming very familiar, to the effect that ho must consider "whether there is any economic necessity or justification for the proposed work, is used at this stage. Theoretically that stipulation may be very sound. In practice it merely requires that the Minister of Agriculture, whoever ho may be at the time, shall be all-wise, since it is proposed to make him all-powerful. Actually he will rely on the advice of his departmental officers, as he necessarily must. Thus, if the bill goes through, it will place the meat export business wholly under political control, with the department as the executive force. The farmers concerned mus€ awaken to this prospect now, for presently it may be too late. They will find their industry bound hand and foot..