Dairy Produce Control

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 95, 27 August 1923, Page 5

Dairy Produce Control

* BILL PASSED BY COUNCIL.

Per Press Association. "Wellington, August 25.

The Dairy Produce Control Bill was reported to the Legislative Council this morning from the Statutes Revision Committee without amendments, and it was put through all stages and passed.

Sir Francis Bell said the Bill had met with some opposition, and it had been decided that a poll should be taken before the Bill came into operation. The measure followed closely in the technique of the Meat Control Bill. The Government thought it almost unnecessary to point out how important it was that the fullest measure of co-oper-ation should be exercised in the interests of the industry as a whole. Compulsion was to act as a policeman where it was found anyone was doing anything detrimental to the industry. The Hon. MJ Cohen welcomed the Bill, but thought there was a danger of people being returned to the board who were not known to the producers.

Sir Walter Buchanan supported the Bill, wHich he felt would be a valuable adjunct to. the legislation existing for the protection of the dairying industry. The Hon. 0. Samuel thought there were "serious objections to the referendum clause. Hitherto the Statute Book ,had only one blot on it—the liquor referendum. It was only peculiar circumstances which i justified Parliament in passing such a proposal as this. Sir Thomas Mackenzie thought the referendum clause in this Bill would be used in future as a lever in respect to other legislaton. ITe did not think there was vv.y need for a referendum in any case. He had always been in favor of combination. There was a strong possibility of keener competition in the near future than existed at present, and i<: was essential that steps should be taken to meet it.

Replying to a question in the House of Representatives, the Hon. W Nosworthy said it was the intention to circulate tho evidence heard by the Agricultural Committee in connection with the Dairy Export Bill to all dairy companies before the referendum was taken.