NEW DAIRY CONTROL BILL

Waipa Post, Volume 32, Issue 1788, 29 July 1926, Page 5

NEW DAIRY CONTROL BILL

COMPULSION NOT AFFECTED. WARD SYSTEM INTRODUCED. The, Dairy Produce Export Control Amendment Bill appeared in the House of Representatives on ' Tuesday afternoon. The Bill, which was redd a first time, provides for the election of producer's’ representatives upon the Board by a ward system 1 of vo-ting, in which individual suppliers have one vote each, and these votes determine 'the exercise by dairy companies of the votes allotted to them on a tonnage basis. The compu’lfeory powers of the original Act are not interfered with. VOTING BASIS' AND WARDS.

The Bill makes it clear that individual suppliers have a vote on the election of candidates, and that when a particular candidate is found to have a majority of votes from* factory, the vote will -then count in accordance with the tonnage exported by that factory—one vote for every twenty tons or part thereof up to 500 ton's, and one vote for every additional 30 tons or part thereof over 'SOO tons. For this calculation, two ton s of cheese shall count as one ton of butter; There- are six wards in the North Island and three in the South Island. The following are the wards in the Auckland) Province: —

No. 1. —Mongonui, Whangaroa. Hokianga, Bay of Islands, Whangarei, Hobson, Otamatea, Rodney, Waitemata, Great Barrier Island, Eden, Manukau, and Franklin Counties. No. 2.—Raglan, Waipa., Kawhia, Otorohanga, Waitomo. Ohur.a, Taumarunui, Kaitieke and Matamata Counties. No. 3.—Waikato, Hauraki Plains, Coromandel, Thames, Ohinemuri, Piako, Rotorua. Taupo, Taur.anga, Whakatane and Oipotiki Counties. / The leader of the Opposition, Mr H. E. Holland, asked for some information as to the details of the Bill, particularly with respect to compulsion. The Hon. O. J. ‘Hawken: The Bill 'deals with two or three; points, hut does not interfere in -any way Avith the compulsory clauses of the main Bill. A Labour member: Ah, ah!

Mr Hawken: It makes provilsion for '.two or three oversights in the main Bill, one dealing Avith the expenses of the election of the 'Board, another dealing with the London board and the salaries of members. The main provision, is the method of election of the Board. The Bill provides for ward's, and the schedule of the Bill setfe out the Avards, and i-t_. also provides the method of voting for the different Avards. IMr Holland: What is the method? Mr Hawken: it is,a double method: for the single vote and the tonnage IMr W. A. Veitch (Wanganui) said there Ava-s a great deal of difference of opinion among members of the dairying community and among those interested. in dairy produce ais to what course ought to be pursued. There had been a strong agitation, and pressure had been -brought-'to hear in favour of and against, compulsion. His question Avas whether the Leader of the House would make this a party question or leav > his f-o'lloAvers free to vote as they thought fit. In the event of any member of the House moving'an amendment'to the Bill 'which, Avould have the effect of postponing compulsion, Avould 'that be: made a party issue, or would the memberis of the Government party be given a free hand? The matter Avas one of such grave importance to the country that it should be considered apart from party. Those members in favour of a postponement of compulsion were 'extremely anxious to knoAV the attitude of the Prime Minister on the question raised,. If it Avals not made a party question the decision which Avas come to would be -a decision of a majority of the members of the House. Mr Coates replied that he Avas not quite sure of the nature of the question. As he understood the (Bill, there \vals no proposal to postpone the effect of the main Act. It concerned voting. As far as the Government party Avas conce-rne'd, many of the members Ave-re pledged in different Avays. He -did not want any member to be put in -a wrong position, so he did not see how this could be made a party question. He had no intention of asking members who had given pledges to put themselves into an awkward position with their constituents. Members must Use their oAvn judgment on matters which came up under the Bill. Mr Veitch: That Avould mean on an amendment to postpone? (Mr Coates: Of course. -I have not had notice of s uch an amendment. As to the Bill generally, that is -the only reasonable attitude I can take up. It has never been made a party question. Does that answer thei honourable gentleman’s question? Mr Veitch: Thank you, it does. Mr Holland: The only time Avhen it jvill become a party question is Avhen tine Labour party moves an amendment. Mr Coates: Not necessarily. I hope Ave feliall never he so short-sighted as not to take anything good the Labour party has. Mr J. A. Nash expressed regret that the. Bill was one that wouild not give universal satisfaction. A voice: Nothing Avill do that. Mr Nash said, he Avould take .advantage of an opportunity to give notice of an amendment to alter the system of voting Avith a vieAV to making -it more equitable. He favoured the individual direct vote- and not the vote through electorates. Under the latter system, if 45 per cent of tine, shareholders Avere opposed to a candidate, they would have no representation at all. In addition to moving an amendment in that direction, he intended to move one to postpone compulsion. Mr Coates: Better hurry up. Th-e Bill mlay be on the order paper tomorrow. Another Minister: And high up,too. Mr Nash assured the Government he would 'not be late. 'He -thought the information Avhich had been made available through the press ishoulld satisfy the House of the position in England. The observations of Mr Poison would cause members to stop and think before allowing the Board to exercise the compuiisory poAvers of the Act. -Sir Joseph Ward said he did not intend io fight tbej Bill or try to

strangle the Wish of the majority of the House. However, he considered ■the proposed compulsion wrong in spirit and a bad, thing, and an indication of the worst kind of Bolshevism ever introduced into any Parliament in the world. He believed' the Meat Board had been well managed. Several members: Question ! •Sir Joseph Ward: I am not in favour of compulsion for the 'Meat Board, but, like a wise body, the Board never exercised compulsion. After further discussion the Bill was read a first time.