The Daily News MONDAY, JANUARY 14, 1935. MOMENTOUS DECISIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 January 1935, Page 4

The Daily News

MONDAY, JANUARY 14, 1935. MOMENTOUS DECISIONS.

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; In view of the importance of the decisions to be made the public is not likely to be overcritical if the Ministry seeks a little longer for the preparation of the mortgage control legislation before meeting Parliament. The electorate will welcome the delay if it ensures a more carefully drafted Bill, and one that regards as fairly as possible the interests of all concerned. The suggestion that the meeting of Parliament may be postponed has come from the Minister of Finance, and as he will pilot the special legislation through the House of Representatives he is entitled to reasonable time for its preparation. Mr. Coates knows as well as any member of the Cabinet the urgency of the farmers’ need, and how important it is to the revenue of the Dominion that costs of production should be reduced, and is not likely to delay action.longer than is necessary for careful preparation. The Minister of Finance referred to another matter in which the whole of Taranaki is intimately interested. Mr. Coates stated that the appointment of three members of the Executive Commission of Agriculture might be made this week. It has been rumoured that the candidates chosen are Mr. Justice Frazer, who was chairman of the Royal Commission that inquired into the dairy industry, Mr. G. A. Duncan, a member of the commission, and Mr. David Jones, the chairman of the Meat Producers Board. Assuming the rumour to be an intelligent anticipation of the appointments proposed it is to be hoped that even at the eleventh hour the Cabinet will consider the matter further. So far as the appointment of Mr. Duncan is concerned there is likely to bo general approval. He has had wide experience of internal administrative work, and his capabilities have won appreciation throughout the dairy industry. In regard to Judge Frazer and Mr. Jones it goes without saying that their probity and character are all that could be desired. But other qualifications than those of good citizenship are surely necessary. The new Commission is to be the executive of the primary industries of the Dominion. It is to co-ordinate the work of the boards controlling those industries, and it is (presumably) to advise the Government in regard to negotiations with other Governments, and the industries in regard .to trading associations with importers wherever they can be found. Tn time any men of ability can. acquire the experience required for such duties. But the state of the dairy industry is such that it cannot afford to wait for guidance while experience is acquired at its expense. The great need of the industry is for markets. Given absorption of its output the rest of the way to prosperity will be found in due course. Their warmest supporters, however, can scarcely claim that either Mr. Justice Frazer or Mr. Jones have had training or experience in the marketing of produce. No doubt Judge Frazer would make an excellent referee between the conflicting interests of dairying represented by Mr. Duncan and the meat industry as represented by Mr. Jones, but the new executive must be something considerably more valuable to exporters than a means of settling differences of opinion between various classes of exporters. With the Minister of Agriculture as chairman the new Commission, if the rumoured appointments are made, will be a board of amateurs so far as the . commercial side of marketing is concerned, while their experience of dairy farming is equally nebulous. The position is too serious for reliance upon amateur efforts, however well intentioned, and it is difficult to believe that the two names mentioned represent all that can be done in securing the best type of member for what ought to be the Dominion’s most important trading executive. Criticism of the rumoured appointments does not arise from suspicion that political ex- i igencies have made them pos- ' sible. It arises from the convic- , tion that the two men referred to have not the experience re- : quired, and that diligent search would reveal those who have.