DETAILS WANTED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22901, 2 December 1937, Page 15

DETAILS WANTED

MARKETING EXTENSION DELUGE OF QUESTIONS STRONG OPPOSITION PROTEST [by telegraph—special reporter] WELLINGTON, Wednesday A strong protest against the meagre details given by the Minister of Marketing, the Hon. W. Nash, when introducing the Primary Products Marketing Amendment Bill in the House of Representatives to-night was voiced by several members of the Opposition. The Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates» (Opposition— Kaipara) even described the attitude of the Minister as shuffling, and claimed that Mr. Nash had not treated the Opposition with the courtesy to which it was entitled. Explaining the bill, Mr. Nash stated that it added to the list of products that could be handled by the Internal Marketing Department honey, fruit and eggs and other foodstuffs. Mr. H. S. S. Kyle (Opposition—Riccarton): Are cabbages included? Tho Minister: No. Mr. K. J. Holyoake Motueka): Vegetables? Mr. Nash: There is no special provision for vegetables. Mr. Coates: Then why not say so right away? Mr. Nash: There is no mention of vegetables in the bill. Mr. Coates: Well, why mention other foodstuffs ? Business Purchases Query "Will any more businesses be purchased?" asked Mr. S. G. Holland (Opposition—Christchurch North) when Mr. Na«h was explaining the provisions of the bill dealing with the opening of an internal marketing account in the Reserve Bank. When the Minister completed his explanation Mr. Coates rose to protest that he could not remember a previous occasion with a bill of such importance when so little detail had been given. There were important provisions dealing with dairy produce for export which ought to be explained"The bill does not take any more powers than those already existing for exportable dairy produce," said Mr. Nash. Mr. Coates: Why have it in the bill, then ? Mr. Nash: There are one or two minor clauses relating to the dairy industry account. Mr. Coates: Oh, that is the thing, then. Why did the Minister not say so when giving his explanation? Meaning of " Other Foodstuffs " Mr. Coates pressed for further details about the term "other foodstuffs," and said the Minister had not replied to the inquiry about vegetables. Mr. Nash: You asked if vegetables were included, and I said they were not mentioned. Mr. Coates: Is that the answer one is to expect from a responsible Minister of the Crown? If ever there was shuffling, then enter the king and prince of shufflers. "We are entitled to some clear explanation," Mr. Coates said, "Surely we are not to be treated as children. The country is entitled to know what is in the bill, and what it means. Is this another step toward the socialisation of —"cabbages" interjected a Labour member. Mr. Coates: Does it mean another j step to the socialisation of distribution and exchange, or is it the complete and final step in the Government's policy of entering into competition in all forms of the exchange and distribution of produce? Mr. Nash shook his head in negation when Mr. Coates asked if the opening of the account in the Reserve Bank for the internal marketing department meant that some person was to conduct a campaign of internal marketing in the Dominion. Grading of Truit Mr. K. J. Holyoake (Opposition— Motueka) pressed for details about the intention of the Government in the marketing of fruit. He asked if the provisions would cover the entire scope of the fruit industry, and particularly if there was any provision for grading fruit for sale. Mr. Nash said there was no actual provision in the bill for grading, but the provision was to make for the orderly marketing of fruit. A long list of questions was also put to the Minister by Mr. S. G. Holland (Opposition—Christchurch North). He inquired whether the sale of meat, of confectionery or of spirits would be included under "other foodstuffs." The Minister shook his head when Mr. Holland asked if the sale of meat in retail shops or at freezing works would be included. Mr. W. J. Broadfoot (Opposition— Waitomo) asked if the intention of the bill was to allow the Government to control prices "at the expense of the farmer." Want of Courtesy Alleged Mr. Coates protested a second time about the paucity' of detail in the explanation by the Minister. He said that Mr." Nash had not extended the usual courtesy to the Opposition. "He adopted a slighting, dogmatic and contemptuous way of answering the questions we have asked him,"" Mr. Coates said. "It is the first time in my experience that a Minister has so completely ignored the questions asked him in a proper way. It is something new to us. Is it sinister? Are the Minister and the heads of his departments to conduct the business of the country in this way?" Mr. W. J. Poison (Opposition— Stratford): His latest Moscow idea. Mr. Coates: I did not suggest that, but if the Minister refuses to answer the people of the Dominion can only draw their own conclusions —that we are being governed by a Government which has no other methods than steamroller tactics to achieve its ends. It is the only interpretation a man can take in view of the contemptuous manner in which the Minister has ignored entirely the questions which the Opposition is entitled to ask. Minister Makes Reply Mr. Nash protested that he had answered the questions one by one as they had been asked. He explained that the bill. would be available for members as soon as the introductory message was agreed to, or shortly after, and that he had adopted the usual method of -waiting until the second reading to give full explanations of

its provisions. To Mr. Holvoake, who had repeated his question about grading, Mr. Nash repeated his answer that grading was not actually provided for in the bill, if grading involved orderly marketing, certainly there was provision for orderly marketing. The bill was read a first time.