DELEGATES' VIEWS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21983, 14 December 1934, Page 15

DELEGATES' VIEWS

CRITICISM AND STJPPQRT

EXECUTIVE PERSONNEL AMENDMENT OF ACT URGED [BT TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT - ] WELLINGTON, Thursday Discussion on the Agriculture (Emergency Powers) Act was initiated at the dairy conference to-day by the Hon. F. Waite, M.L.C. (Otago), who moved "That this meeting of producers, while keenly anxious to assist the Government to solve the difficulties of the dairy , industry, would strongly urge that in -setting up the executive commission the Act should be so altered that the producers' representatives should be nominees of the Dairy Board and Meat Board respectively." Mr. Waite said they , all knew that quite natural difficulties had occurred between the Meat Board and the Dairy Board over the exportation of boner cattle, bobby calves and pork, and some organisation was desirable in order that the work might be coordinated. It was quite right, he thought, that the Minister of Agriculture should be chairman of the executive commission of agriculture, and that the two principal boards should have nominees. In his opinion the Meat and Dairy Boards should have th« right to say who should have the right to represent them on the commission. The Government's Stand The Minister of Agriculture said that one of the objections to the appointment of the chairmen of the two boards was that it conflicted with the principle of the legislation that representatives should be paid for one job only. It was to be a one-man job. Hp did not think the Government would weaken on that. He thought he was perfectly safe in saying that when the appointment was made it would be an appointment entirely, satisfactory to the industry. Air. Macmillan said he wanted to work, and the Government wanted to work, for the industry as much as possible. They were being left standing for the want of an executive committee of the sort proposed by the legislation. The Government had tried to get an organisation able to deal with other Governments, and go to the Government itself for assistance out of the Consolidated Fund for advertising and expansion of markets, instead of money being taken out of a depressed industry. It was the intention of the Government to appoint the executive commission and also to get on with the business.

Mr. D. G. Begley (Heretaunga) said that the feeling in his particular district was that the right to elect to such an important commission should bo reserved to the producers themselves.

Opposition to Whole Policy Mr. A. C. A. Sexton (Pukekohe> moved an amendment expressing opposition to the whole policy of the Act, and the opinion that its provisions were likely to increase costs and give power to introduce a quota without further reference to the industry or Parliament. His specific objection related to the setting up of the executive commission and to what were referred to as "its over-riding powers." Mr. Sexton said it seemed to him that the legislation was a confession of mistaken policy on the part of the Government. They were opposed absolutely to planned production, and that was what the Act involved. If a quota was to be put on their industry let the British Government say so. Then they would know where they stood. If the powers conferred under the Act were absolutely necessary he thought the Government should take the responsibility. Mr. F. E. Cullen (Maungaturoto) seconded the amendment. He 6aid it seemed to him that the powers taken by the Government in connection with the dairy industry were altogether out of proportion. As he saw it, it meant that the cities would be running their industry.

"An Unanswerable Case" "I think the Minister has put up an unanswerable case before this con- * ference in the action that has been taken," said Mr. B. Roberts (Parkvale). He recommended the conference to nccept the provisions the Government had made. If the Government was going to take charge of the industry, it could not possibly refuse financial assistance. Mr. G. Buchanan (New Zealand Cooperative Dairy Company) supported the amendment moved by Mr. Sexton. , He claimed that the legislation gave to the Minister dictatorial powers. In his opinion, such powers should not be given to any commission, let alone any Minister of the Crown. Replying, the Minister said that the Consolidated Fund would bear the cost j of investigating and opening up new markets. The Government had been fully seized for some time with the necessity for this, and he had asked the Minister of Industries and Commerce to provide £250,000 on his estimates to investigate and find new markets. - Nobody wanted to go outside the British market, but if they were forced to, provision should be made accord- . inglv. The Minister referred to criticism which had been made to the effect that the Act would restrict production and increase costs, but he said he could not find that anywhere in the Act. Mr. Macmillan stressed the necessity for a co-ordinating board, particularly in view of negotiations with the Old Country. "We go into the conference with the best cards in our hand," he said, "and we are entitled to keep those cards in our hands. In the interests of the industry we have to move with the times." Reply to Other Points Referring to big companies' representation on the commission, he said that the suppliers could make a change in the pftrsonnel of the directors if they were not satisfied with the nominations. Discussing the contention that there should have been a poll of the industry, the Minister said that everybody knew that certain things ought to be done, and when somebody was found who would do them; they should be supported. "Most of the unpopular things • the Government , did, didn't dare to put into force," he said. Any quota would not be put into operation without the Government's consent. A further amendment by Mr. R. H. MeKenzie (Pokeno), that the executive commission consist of three members instead of four, was heavily defeated, . ~ and Mr. Waite's motion was passed. A Dannevirke remit urging that any n new dairy hoard should consist of 100 ' ' per cent of producers' representatives was defeated by an overwhelming majority. It was decided to recommend that elected members of the Dairy Board be increased by one. and at&v. that the Government nominees be reduced by one. The conference adjourned until tomorrow morning.