CHANGES MADE

Southland Times, Issue 22474, 9 November 1934, Page 8

CHANGES MADE

AGRICULTURE BILL MINISTER INCLUDED ON COMMISSION MEMBERSHIP NOW FOUR (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, November 8. The inclusion of the Minister of Agriculture in the personnel of the Executive Commission of Agriculture, the Minister to act as chairman, is the principal amendment made in the Agriculture (Emergency Powers) Bill. The amendments to the measure were introduced in the House of Representatives this evening. The membership of the Executive Commission is increased to four, allowing for the appointment of the Minister as chairman. Provision is also made for the appointment of a deputy-chairman. Provision is made that two members of the Commission are to be persons who, at the date of their appointment or theretofore, are engaged as producers. The Minister of Agriculture is not to receive any additional payment by virtue of his membership of the Commission. The Bill originally provided that the members of the Commission were not to be engaged in any paid employment otherwise than as a member of the Commission, but this provision has now been deleted. The powers of the existing Control Boards are strengthened by a new provision which states that no powers that are vested in the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board, New Zealand Dairy Board, New Zealand Fruit Export Control Board, New Zealand Honey Control Board and New Zealand Poultry Control Board shall be transferred to the Commission except after consultation between the Commission and the board affected. The Dairy Board is deprived of its control over the grading of dairy produce intended for consumption in New Zealand.

The clause authorizing the Dairy Board to appoint instructors in the management of dairies, or of dairy factories, has been deleted from the Bill. Limitations of the power of the Gov-ernor-General in Council to make regulations are provided for. The proposal that regulations may be issued providing for the licensing of persons engaged in the production of milk or cream for sale, together with their premises, has been dropped, as has been the power to regulate the transport of cream or milk to dairy factories.