SHEEP INDUSTRY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 July 1939, Page 5

SHEEP INDUSTRY

PRELIMINARY MEETING OF COMMISSION DECISIONS AS TO METHODS OF PROCEDURE. HEARING OF EVIDENCE NEXT WEEK (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Methods of procedure for the preparation of its report were decided by the Sheepfarming Industry Commission at a meeting in Wellington yesterday. The committee, which comprises the Hon Sir Francis Frazer, as chairman, and Messrs H. M. Christie, Arthur Cook, Dickson, Jardine and R. A. Roger, will begin taking evidence in Wellington on July 20. Mr R. D. Steele, secretary of the Executive Commission of Agriculture, will be secretary of the commission. Because of the necessity for the commission to complete its deliberations and present its report within a reasonable time, it is desired to minimise travelling and to avoid any unnecessary duplication of evidence. Evidence to be presented by national central organisations directly connected with the sheep-farming industry, such as the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, the New Zealand Sheepowners Federation, the New Zealand Live Stock Auctioneers and Agents’ Association, and the New Zealand Workers’ Union, is to be taken in Wellington wherever possible. It is desired that these organisations should select representative witnesses to place before the commission the views of their organisations, and the commission will allot suitable dates.

The commission decided yesterday that district organisations affiliated to national organisations directly connected with the industry should, as far as possible., limit evidence to matters affecting their localities. These witnesses will be held at the most convenient centre at which the commission hold a sitting.

These national and district organisations must notify the secretary of the commission if they wish to produce witnesses. The notification must be received by July 1, and 12 typewritten copies of the evidence must be forwarded before August 12. All other persons and organisations desirous of making representations must comply with these conditions, and if the commission considers that the personal attendance of a witness is desirable, it will notify those concerned.

All evidence will be taken in committee so that witnesses will not be embarrassed. An organisation, national or local, tendering witnesses will be permitted, during the presentation of its case, to have an advocate or advocates present to outline the case, to be presented and to assist in examining the witnesses. The commission will hold sittings in centres where it considers them necessary, arid it will also inspect typical sheep-farming areas.

All communications intended for the commission must be addressed to the secretary, P.O. Box 1148, Wellington, C.l.