“STEP OUTSIDE DOOR”

Taranaki Daily News, 1 December 1934, Page 9

“STEP OUTSIDE DOOR”

BRITAIN TO MR. DAVID JONES. NOT A GOVERNMENT SERVANT. “The Imperial Government says it will not deal or negotiate with anyone other than Government officials. You had an example of this when Mr. David Jones, chairman of the Meat Board, went to England as adviser to the High Commissioner in the discussions on the meat restrictions. Mr. Jones was told by the Imperial Government to step outside the door. He was not recognised, as he was not a Government servant. Government will deal only with Government. Many cables passed between New Zealand and Great Britain before the position Was straightened out.” The foregoinng remarks were made by the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. C. E. Macmillan, when speaking at Maungaturoto on the Government proposals to assist the dairy industry. ■ “I do not think the farmer has realised that the position of marketing has changed,” said the Minister. “Some time ago it was an effort to bring about cooperation to get better prices, as between the farmer and the Tooley Street merchant. Marketing has now gone beyond that. When the Imperial Government takes a hand in it, Tooley Street and everyone else have to take a back seat.” / “That will be your position if you have to negotiate with the British Government in regard to marketing. If you do, you will be told to keep outside. The position is forced upon us. We must have men appointed by the Government if negotiations are to take place, If the Government does not appoint a commission able to negotiate when the time comes you will have no one to negotiate at all. The responsibility is on the Government, and no Government will deal except with the representative of another Government.” The Minister said the commission was armed with powers. There was no doubt about that, but a commission would be no good if it did not have powers. It would not deal with the produce of the dairy-farmer only, but with all New Zealand primary produce. There had been no complaints from any of the other boards, and, in fact, no official complaint from the Dairy Board. It was the duty of the commission to co-ordin-ate the efforts in the Dominion of all the different produce boards, and he could not understand any reasonable man taking exception to that. He felt satisfied that, in the course of a fortnight or so, when the names of the members of the commission were announced, it would be thought that the Government had made a wise selection.