ACTIVE OPPOSITION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22412, 7 May 1936, Page 13

ACTIVE OPPOSITION

"STONEWALL" DEVELOPS COMMITTEE DISCUSSIONS PROTESTS AGAINST CLOSURE [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Wednesday Stonewalling tactics were adopted by members of the Opposition in the House of Representatives to-day as soon as tiic Primary Products Marketing Bill entered the committee stages. There was evidence of studied team work in an effort to make an effective protest against the passage of the bill, and just before the supper adjournment, after discussion on the short title of the bill had been proceeding for three hours, the Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, for the second occasion during the day had recourse to the closure. The discussion on the short title was reasonably amicable. Government members, of course, remained mute except for occasional interjections with Mr. A. S. Richards (Itoskill) the most persistent member in this direction. However, there was no lack of speeches from the Opposition side, although the argument was mainly a reiteration of points raised in the second reading debate. At one stage in the discussion Opposition members made frequent appeals for a plebiscite of the dairy industry in order to obtain a final decision on the Government's proposals. Retort by Minister "We had a, plebiscite in November," said the Minister of Labour, Hon. 11. T. Armstrong, "and you got it in the neck." Later when Mr. H. S. S. Kyle (Opposition —Riecarton) was dealing at length with the ability of dairy farmers to manage their own industry Mr. J. A. Lee (Government —Grey Lynn) made an inaudible interjection. "The member for Grey Lynn might bo able to write a good book," said Mr. Kyle, "but lie knows nothing about farming or marketing." Referring to the proposals to broad-j cast speeches in the debate and a Gov-j ernment suggestion that the Opposition had engineered proceedings to keep the Minister of Finance, Hon. W. Nash, off the air, Mr. Kyle said it seemed almost as if the House was to bo controlled by the Broadcasting Board. A more serious note was provided by Mr. Nash when he said the Government's task was to see that the producer in New Zealand was paid for the work he did and that tho consumer in Britain received the product at the lowest possible price, taking into account production costs and the elimination of everything in between. Action by Prime Minister When the Prime Minister rose and moved the closure there were cries of "Gag," and the Opposition called for a division. The motion was carried by 51 votes to 20 The Opposition stonewall was assiduously developed. Members exercised all their rights and a speaker had only to sit down for another to jump to his feet. Apart from the short title the first five clauses were carried on the voices, although not without discussion. t However, on clause 6, which outlines the functions of the proposed Department of Marketing, providing for its acquisition and marketing of any primary products, and for complete Ministerial control of freight contracts, there was determined opposition. After considerable discussion, Mr. W. J. Broadfoot (Opposition Waitomo) moved an amendment to restrict the functions of the department to the control of dairy products. A division was called for, and the amendment was defeated by 'lB to 19. As soon as the result of the division was announced and before many members had returned to the Chamber, the Prime Minister rose and moved the closure on the clause. "The tyranny of Tom Thumb," shouted Mr. Broadfoot. Mr. Coates also protested. The closure was applied, and on a division was carried by 51 votes to 19. Subsequently, on another division, the clause was passed.

RECIPROCAL TRADE PROMOTING AGREEMENTS NEW CLAUSE IN THE BILL [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON. Wednesday The promotion of reciprocal trade agreements is the objective of an additional clause to the Primary Products Marketing Bill, which tho Minister of Finance, Hon. W. Nash, is to introduce during the committee stages, according to a supplementary order paper circulated in the House of Representatives to-night. This follows the 'indication given by the Minister when the bill was first introduced. . Under the new clause the Minister of Marketing, with a view to making agreements between Now Zealand and other countries for tho promotion of reciprocal trade, may on behalf of the Government enter into negotiations with accredited representatives of the Government of the United Kingdom in tho first, place, of any other British Dominion, or of any other country. It is provided that the basis of any such agreement shall be that in consideration of the purchase by any overseas Government of any primary products from New Zealand, or in consideration of the establishment or maintenance of favourable marketing conditions for New Zealand primary products, the Dominion Government will undertake to arrange through the Reserve' Bank that the whole or a substantial part of tho financial credits therebv established overseas will lie utilised for the purchase of approved goods, or classes of goods produced or manufactured in the country concerned.