COMMERCIAL GARDENING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25173, 13 March 1943, Page 4

COMMERCIAL GARDENING

It is perfectly intelligible that the Department of Agriculture should desire to effect a registration of commercial gardens. Its proposal, contained in a Bill which it has framed, is in complete line with tire general policy of the Government to regiment the producers of the country and to secure a grip over all forms of industry. The Minister of Agriculture states, however, that the Bill is desired by the commercial gardeners themselves as well as by the department. The evidence of the existence of any such desire on the part of the producers is lacking, and it is impossible to see that they are in any way likely to benefit by the registration of their gardens as is required under the measure. The Minister declares that it is necessary to know the number of commercial gardeners in the Dominion and the extent of the acreage of the gardens. Otherwise there would, he says, be no need for the Bill. This is far from flattering to the capacity of the Government departments for acquiring information. They are inquisitorial enough in many ways, and it is not really credible that it is only by a process of registering every occupant of a commercial garden of half an acre or more in extent and by the exaction of a fee from him that the Department of Agriculture can ascertain the total extent of the area of these gardens. The Leader of the Opposition is reported to have said that the Bill seemed to be reasonable because it gives no more power over the vegetable growers and the distribution of their produce than the department now possesses. It is certainly a seemingly innocuous measure. In the very appearance of innocuousness which is thus regarded as a recommendation of it may lurk a danger. It is not to be supposed that the Government interests itself in the promotion of legislation which does not extend its powers. And the method whereby it may extend its powers is ofte to which it is very partial and to which it has constantly resorted throughout the war period. The Gover-nor-General may, it is provided, from time to time make all such regulations as may in his opinion be necessary or expedient for giving full effect to the provisions of this Act and for the due administration thereof. The commercial gardeners may receive a shock some day when they learn what is demanded of them under these regulations.