BOBBY CALF TRADE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23142, 14 September 1938, Page 15

BOBBY CALF TRADE

ESTABLISHMENT OF POOLS REGULATIONS CONFIRMED DISCUSSION ON MARKETING [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] "WELLINGTON, Tuesday Regulations concerning the establishment of bobby calf and butter box pools are confirmed by the Agricultural Emergency Regulations Confirmation Bill, which was passed in the House of Representatives to-day. Moving tho second reading of the bill, the Minister of Marketing, the Hon. W. Nash, said facilities were being provided for farmers to form pools, both for butter boxes and bobby calves. II wa& necessary for 80 per cent of the farmers in a bobby calf pool area to be agreeable before tho pool was recognised. Mr. W. J. Poison (Opposition— Stratford) asked whether the Minister was satisfied with the marketing of calrcs. Tho Pig Marketing Association was working in conjunction with proprietary concerns and its calves were being handled at their works along with other calves. That had created a great deal of suspicion that everything might not be all right with the marketing side. Apparently there was not the real competition that had been anticipated. Mr. H. G. Dickie (Opposition— Patea) said tho farmers in Taranaki preferred tho "cash at ,tho gate" system and that was the reason why there was not one pool in Taranaki to-day. There had been complaints about the alleged cruelty of leaving bobby- calves in trucks at country railway stations, although lio thought there was very little actual crucltv.

"I believe tho Pig Marketing Association at ono time received some help from one large commercial house," said tho Minister in reply, "but I do not think the criticism against it is justified. I have not seen anything to suggest any trickery or cleverness." The* Minister also expressed pleasure that tho element of cruelty was gradually being eliminated from the bobby calf trade. There was no discussion in Committee and tho bill was passed.

ACCESS TO COURT INJURED WORKERS' RIGHT. REASON FOR CHANGE IN ACT [bt telegraph—special reporter] WELLINGTON, Tuesday Amendments to the Workers Compensation Act Sftpntainod in tho Statutes Amendirfetit Bill wero criticised by Mr. W. J. Broadfoot (Opposition —Waitomo) during the second reading of the bill in the House of Representatives to-day. Ho suggested that ono clause had been introduced because of pressure from tho, unions. "If a man is given a certificate by a medical practitioner that he is fit for work and does,not agree with it, ho may appeal to .a medical committee of three members," Mr. Broadfoot said. "The employer has the same right, and at present the findings of that committee are conclusive, so that the Court of Arbitration has no power to go behind tho committco's certificate.

"Tho amendment makes it _ clear, however, that the medical certificates will not bo conclusive, and it seems that even if judgment is given either side may go to tho Court and liavo tho claim reopened. Tho evidence of the experts is entirely disregarded and there is no finality."

"Any solicitor knows that retrospective legislation has to ho scrutinised very closely," said the A ttornoyGer.eral, tho Hon. If. G. R. in reply, "but there are occasions when it can l)o perfectly just-, and this is a caso in point. Jt deals with a matter of procedure and with the question or access to tho Court. Tho issues concerned were not determined in Court on their merits or there would bo the gravest difficulty about saying they could bo reopened. . . . t "In tho present caso it is considered that tho original intention of tho Act Mas not that which was determined by the Court when it held that there was no appeal from tho medical con nutteo to tho Court of Arbitration, the Minister added. "Tho intention of the Act was that access to tho >°u r ,y should always have been maintained.