DAIRY CONTROL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 16213, 25 August 1923, Page 9

DAIRY CONTROL.

BILL PASSED BY HOUSE

POLL OF PRODUCERS

* fper Press Association.! WELLINGTON, last night

Consideration of the Dairy Produce Export Control Bill was resumed in committee.

Sir. J. Lake moved to delete the Gov eminent representatives from the per sonncl of the Board of Control.

Replying to a question by Mr. Wilford', the Prime Minister said it could be taken that the, Governor-General was not likely to appoint anyone to the Board if he had been rejected by the producers* The Minister, qf Agriculture said he had given \iis word that a plebiscite would be taken, but this was contingent on certain amendments being made at a later stage in the Bill. Sir J. Duke's amendment was negatived on the voices.

Mr. Wilford lligtu, moved an amendment that the Governor-General shall not appoint to the Board of Control any person whose candidature therefor has been rejected by the producers. This was earned by 39 votes to 32. On sub-clause 2 of clause 2 Mr. Holland moved an additional paragraph providing for the election of two persons to the Board as workers' representatives. This was rejected by 50 votes to 21. Sub-clause 4 of clause 3, dealing witih the manner of electing producers' representatives on the Board of Control, evoked considerable discussion. This was originally proposed -to be done through electoral colleges, but the agricultural committee amended this to make the election by the direct vote of the producers.

The Minister said he could not accept this, and moved as ,an amendment that the words 'by direct vote" be deleted. , Supporters of the direct vote, suggested thoti the two Islands might be divided into electoral districts or wards.

The opposition to the college system being pronounced, the Minister announced he would withdraw the amendment.

The clause was then passed as amended by the Committee, making' the election of the Board by direct vote.

The next eight clauses were passed without question, but on clause 12, providing for the exercise of compulsory power over the industry, Mr. Smith urged the: Minister to give an assurance that this -would not bo done -until next session, at any rate. The Prime Minister said the Bill was useless wiUiout this provision. It did not follow that compulsion would be used, but the presence of\ the compulsory clause was necessary. Mr. Masters said he would call for. a division on the clause in pursuance of his declared opposition td* compulsion. On the Minister's motion the compulsory clauses was restricted to apply to conti-acts for the sale of produce made after July 1, 1923. The agricultural committee had amended the date to October, 1922, but the Minister said itwas not desired to interfere with contracts made in good faith before there was a prospect of legislative control being exercised. * The whole clause was then passed by 55 votes to 14. > ,

Tho rest of the clauses were passed unaltered, and progress was reported. On the Speaker taking the Chair a new clause was introduced by Gover-nor-General's message, providing that! the Act shall not be brought into operation -until a poll of producers had been taken. ~•..

In response to, criticisms the Minister suid the vote would be exercised by the man supplying milk to tho factory. The poll is to be taken not later than October 1, 1923. , -. .' ' Mr. Wilford moved a. new clause that the wholesale prices of butter, for local consumption shaU..be. calculated on the parity of export' prices. This was rejected, on the voices, and the Bill was,reported with amendments. . motion for the third reading Mr. Isitt entered -an emphatic protest against the compulsory principle embodied in the Bill. <.

Mr. Witty .thought; the people of Now Zealand would later be" sorry that this measure had ever reached the Statute Book. ■.,;. Tbd Bill was. read a. third time on the voices, and thci.House adjourned at 5.50