Dairy Produce Control

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 94, 25 August 1923, Page 7

Dairy Produce Control

BILL PASSES HOUSE.

PLEBISCITE OF SUPPLIERS.

Per Press Association

Wellington, August 24

The debate on the Dairy Produce Export Control Bill was continued .in committee when the House resumed this afternoon.

Sir John Luke (Wellington North) moved to delete the Government representatives from the personnel of tlie Board of Control.

Replying to a question by Hr T. M. Wilford (Leader of the Opposition) the Prime Minister said it could bo taken that the GovernorGene al was not likely to appoint anyone to the board if ho had lx?en rejected by the producers. .

The Minister for Ag.ieulture (the Hon. W. Nosworthy), who is in charge of the Bill, said ho had given hiia word that a plebiscite would be taken, but this) was contingent on certain amendments being made at a later stage in the Bill. Sir John Luke’s amendment was negatived on the voices.

Mr Wilford then moved an amendment that the Governor-General shall not appoint to< the board of control any person whose candidature therefore ha a been rejected by the producers. This was carried by 39 vptos to 32.

On sub-clause two of clause three, Mr H. E. Holland (Leader of the Labor Party) moved an additional pa agraph providing for the election of two persons to the board as worker:/ .representatives. This was rejected by -50 votes to 21. Sub-clause four of clause three, dealing with the maimer of electing the 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 tho direct vote of tho producers. j The Minister said he could not accept this, and moved an amendment that tho words “by direct vote” lie deleted. i

Su porters of a direct vote suggested that tho tw'o islands might b;divided into electoral districts or wards, but opposition to the college system being pronounced, the Minister announced that ho would withdraw tho amendment

Tho clause was passed as amended by tho committee, making tho election of tho board by direct vote.

The next er’glit clauses were passed without question, but on clause twelve, providing for the exercise of compulsory power over the industry, Mr S. C. Smith (Taranaki) urged the Minister to give an assurance that this vfould not be done until next session at any rate.

Tho Prime Minister said the Bill was useless without this p ’©vision. It did not follow that compulsion would be used, but the presence of tbo compulsory clause was necessary.

Mr R-. Masters (Stratford) said he would call for a division on the clausein pursuance of his declared opposition to compulsion. On tbo Minister’s, motion the com-

pulsory clause was restricted to apply to contracts for’ the sal© of produce made after July 1, '"1923. The Agricultural Committee* had amended the date to October 1, 1922, but the Minister said it was not desired to interfere with contracts made in good faith before there was a prospect of legislative control being exercised. \ Tlu; whole clause was then passed 55 votes to 14.

The rest, of the clauses were parsed unaltered and .progress was reported.

On tho Speaker taking tbo chair a new clause was introduced by Gov-ernor-General ' s message providing that tho Act shall not bo brought into operation until a poll of the producers is taken.

Tho Minister said tho vote would be ex ore (used by a man supplying milk to a factory. The poll is to be taken not later(than October 1, 1923. Mr Wilford moved a new clause that the wholesale price of butter for local consumption shall be calculated on the parity of the exportprices. This was rejected on the voices, and tho Bill was reported with amendments.

On the motion for the third reading, Mr L. M. Isitt (Christchurch North) entered an emphatic protest against the compulsory principle embodied in the Bill.

M r G. Witty (Riocarton) tlanight the people of Now Zealand would later be sorry that this measure ever reached the Statute Rook.

The Bill was rend a third dime on the voices.