AGRICULTURE BILL.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20455, 7 November 1934, Page 13

AGRICULTURE BILL.

Few Alterations Made by Government. CONFIRMED BY COALITION. (“ Star ” Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, November 6. Contrary to all expectations few alterations have been made in the Agriculture (Emergency Powers) Bill, which was confirmed by the Coalition caucus to-day. The only change of importance, ac- ! cording to information gained tonight, is that it will be necessary for the proposed Executive Commission of Agriculture to confer with any of the export control boards if it intends to interfere in any way with its functions, or the manner in which it carries out its duties. The measure was under discussion by members of the Coalition for nearly three hours, and many protests which had been received by individual members were aired, but Mr Forbes and Mr Coates were able to turn the tide of opposition and secure a unanimous vote for the Bill as it had been amended. The amendments, it is understood, are mainly of a machinery nature and do not alter the principles of dictatorship as contained in the orginal proposals. 1 It is understood that telegrams have been received by the Government from representative Taranaki interests supporting the measure as it stands, and it has been indicated by some Waikato and Southland dairying interests that they also support the passing of the Bill. The amendments will not be made public until Thursday, when they will be dealt with by the House during the committee stages of the Bill. /The Prime Minister refused to-day to give any indication as to their nature, and he urged members of the party to keep them secret until they came before the House.