MARKETING MINISTER

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

MARKETING MINISTER

MANY CUriOUS MEMBERS NO SATISFACTION OBTAINED [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL BEPOBTEB] WELLINGTON, Wednesday A keen curiosity as to who the Minister of Marketing would be was displayed by Opposition members when the clause providing for the appointment of the Minister was being considered by the House in Committee on the Primary Products Marketing Bill. "Why cannot the Government say who this Minister is to be?" asked Mr. H. S. S. Kyle (Opposition—Riccarton). "Why not say it is to be the Minister of Agriculture and be done with it?" Mr. S. G. Smith (Opposition—New Plymouth) asked whether the clause meant the appointment of a new Minister involving extra expense to the country. Perhaps the Government contemplated bringing in a first-class business man from the Legislative Council and appointing him to the position. "I think the marketing might well be left to the present Dairy Board to attend to," said Mr. W. J. Broadfoot (Opposition—Waitomo). "I think we should not have a new Minister at all., We have a Minister of Agriculture and an Agriculture Department and I do not see why they should not do the job." Mr. C. A. Wilkinson (Independent— Egmont) expressed the opinion that the extra cost involved in the appointment of another Minister would be a mere bagatello when the immensity of the undertaking was considered. It would take the whole-time services of any Minister and expense should not be spared to get the best available talent, from outside if necessary. The country, however, would be satisfied if the Minister of Finance,' Hon. W. Nash, was appointed to the new portfolio, Mr. Wilkinson asked the Minister for some information on the matter. Mr. Nash: I am afraid you will have to leave that to the Governor-General. Mr. W. J. Poison (Opposition—Stratford) suggested that if the Government did not consider the Minister of Agriculture capable qf conducting the new department it should certainly get someone else, but it was only logical that agricultural matters should be handled by the Minister of Agriculture. Mr. Poison moved as an amendment that the Minister of Agriculture, should be appointed Minister of Marketing. The Chairman of Committees, Mr. K. J. Howard, refused to accept the amendment on the grounds that it was out of order.