ORGANISING AN INDUSTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 March 1933, Page 6

ORGANISING AN INDUSTRY.

Now that the major Bills relating to the country’s finances have been disposed of there is strong justification for bringing before the House again the Poultry Amendment Bill that was rightly shelved some time ago to make way for more urgent business. The Minister of Agriculture has adopted the somewhat unusual course of proceeding with the measure against the recommendation of the committee of the House that has been giving it consideration, the Minister’s reason being that the committee’s finding was contrary to the weight of evidence, There will be considerable support for this contention, for the Bill is primarily an organisation empowering one, and the need has never been greater for efficient organisation in any industry. In substance the industry proposes to make a levy upon its members, without recourse to the general taxpayer, and apply the funds so gained in the form of an export bounty, which should serve the double purpose of creating a market overseas and better prices at home, owing to the shortage thus caused. The fact that Great Britain last year imported £16,000,000 worth of eggs, of which only £lO,OOO worth came from New Zealand, seems to indicate at the very least, a possibility of expansion of the overseas market by New Zealand. As with ail similar measures, there are elements of danger in the Bill. In the first place, great care must be taken to see that the “small poultryman”—the householder who adds a few shillings to a moderate income by selling a limited quantity of eggs on the local market—is not overembarrassed by the levy and the several minor restrictions as to conditions of stock and buildings which are included in the Bill; secondly, the cost of administering the Act should be carefully watched, for it is a common complaint with such measures that the increase in returns does not justify the additional impost in overhead costs. Providing due care is taken in these matters the passing of the Act should be a distinct forward step. The recent trend of events in the wool, meat and dairy produce markets has demonstrated very forcibly the value of having one’s eggs in as many baskets as possible.