MEAGRE DETAILS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23364, 2 December 1937, Page 12

MEAGRE DETAILS

MARKETING AMENDMENT BILL COMPLAINTS BY OPPOSITION MINISTER’S ATTITUDE RESENTED DETAILS PROMISED LATER (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, Dec. 1. A strong protest against the meagre details which the Minister of Market ing (Mr Nash) gave when introduc ing the Primary Products Marketing Amendment Bill in the House of Representatives last evening was voiced by several members of the Opposition but particularly by Mr J. G. Coates (Opposition, Kaipara). Mr Coates went so far as to describe the attitude of the Minister as “ shuffling, and claimed that Mr Nash had not treated the Opposition with the usual courtesy When explaining the Bill. Mr Nasn stated that it extended to a list ot products that could be handled by the Internal Marketing Departmenthoney. fruit. and*eggs, and other foodstuffs. Mr H. S. S. Kyle (Opposition, Riccarton): Are cabbages included? The Minister: No. Mr K. J. riolyoake (Opposition, 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 oi vegetables in this Bill. Mr Coates: Well, why mention other foodstuffs? . "Will any more businesses be purchased?” asked MrS. G. Holland (Opposition, Christchurch North) when Mr Nash was briefly explaining the provisions of the Bill dealing with the opening of an internal marketing account in the Reserve Bank. A Lack of Details Mr Coates immediately rose when the Minister had completed his brief explanation to protest that he could not remember a previous similar 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. Mr Coates pressed for further details about the term “ other foodstuffs.” The Minister, he said, had not replied to an 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 wa? shuffling, then enter the . king and prince of shufflers. The Chairman of Committee (Mr E J. Howard) called the House to order, Mr Coates Interjecting. “Blocked again.” , $ “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 towards the socialisation of “Cabbages!” interjected a Labour member. Mr Coates: Does it mean another step to the socialisation of distribution and exchange? Is it a complete and Anal step in the Government’s policy of entering into competition in all forms of the exchange and distribution of produce? Of all the answers that could have been given I can imagine none more misleading and incomplete than those of the Minister.” Mr Nash shook his head in negation when Mr Coates asked if the opening of an account in the Reserve Bank for the Internal Marketing Department meant that some person was to conduct an active campaign of internal marketing in the Dominion. , Further Questions To Mr K. J. Holyoake (Opposition, Motueka), who pressed for details about the intention of the Government in the marketing of fruit, Mr Nash said that there was no actual provision in the Bill for grading. Mr Kyle also asked for further details. Was there any provision for the fixing of prices for all produce which was to be included? he asked. Did the Government intend to compete with the vegetable markets of the country? Was there any intention to enter into negotiations for the purchase of some of the great markets of the cities along the lines of the purchase of Picot Bros.? Mr Kyle also asked if it was true that there would be provision for preventing non-retail-ing and private persons from buying at the markets. Mr Nash replied that he did not know of any provision to debar private dealing at the markets, and 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.” Minister Criticised Mr Coates protested a second time about the paucity of detail in the explanation by the Minister. “Ho 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 questions asked him in a proper way. It is something new to us. Is it sinister? Are the Minister and the heads of his department tu conduct the business of the countrv 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 rs. that we are being governed by a Government that has no other methods than steam-roller 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 questions which the Opposition is entitled to Explanations Promised

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 Holyoake who had repeatea 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.