PRIMARY PRODUCTS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 108, 8 May 1936, Page 7

PRIMARY PRODUCTS

Marketing Bill Passed OPPOSITION SPEAKERS MINISTER IN REPLY ( Per Press Association. ) WELLINGTON, Al ay 7. The House after 2 a.m. continued consideration of the Primary Products .Marketing Bill in committee. On clause 15 Air. H. S. S. Kyle (Riccarton) moved as an amendment that Sub-section C include in the definition of dairy produce products of a kind derived from operations usually carried on in conjunction with dairy*' farming operations (such as the rearing ot pigs), whether such products were actually produced on dairy farms or elsewhere. The closure was applied by 45 votes to 17 and the amendment was defeated, also by 45 votes to 17. The clause was passed by 44 votes to 17. Air. W. J. Polson (Stratford) moved an amendment to clause 16 with the object of taking a plebiscite and giving the producer a say as to what should be done with his product, but it was ruled out of order as it involved appropriation. -Mr. Kyle moved that Stewart Island should be excluded from the provisions of the Bill, but the motion was withdrawn on an understanding that the .Minister of Finance would consider the matter. The clause was retained by 4C votes to 17. Air. A. C. A. Sexton (Franklin) sought to amend clause 19 in the direction of securing an independent authority to make an investigation and report. He contended that it was not right that the same authority that paid the price should fix the price. 'The Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes said that there would be much more confidence among farmers if Air. Sexton’s suggestions were carried out. The amendment was ruled out of order on tire ground that it involved appropriation:. Air. Sexton moved that instead of the guaranteed price being fixed on the average price over an eight to ten years’ period it should be fifteen years. The amendment was defeated by 44 votes to 19. On the motion of the Hon. W. Nash a new clause was added giving the Alinister authority to arrange the terms of provisional trade agreements, with a view to the promotion of reciprocal trade. The Committee stages of the Bill were completed at 4.10 a.m. Third ReadingOn the third reading the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates (Kaipara) said that neither the country nor the House had had ample opportunity to discuss the importance of the various clauses of the Bill and the far-reaching effect of the clauses. It may be that the Government thought its large majority gave it that right. It had used that large majority to force it through. Air. Polson: “Bludgeoned.” Air. Coates: “Yes, bludgeoned if you like.” It was something new to him, he added. He proceeded to review the arguments used in the earlier stages of the Bill. Air. Polson said that the House had had an unpleasant night because the measure had been bludgeoned through. The rights of the farmers had been taken away from them to an extent it was difficult to contemplate with patience. The Government was laying down one principle for the farmer and another for the worker. The guaranteed price was a confidence trick which had been put across the farmers. The guaranteed price was nothing more than a repayable advance. He claimed that the Opposition had adopted a reasonable attitude in the Committee stages, but the Government’s attitude was an abuse of power such as they had never had in the history of New Zealand. He said that the Prime Minister had shown no generosity in that debate. His attitude was that of a man who would trample on his enemy when he was down. The Speaker intervened and said that Air. Polson was introducing irrevalent matters. Air. Polson said that it was clear that the Government had no appreciation of the problems of the dairy farmer either in New Zealand or in the Old Country. The Hon. A. Hamilton (Wallace) protested against the way the Bill had been rushed through. He said that it should have been referred to a committee. The House had been informed that if the Government had a deficit in the dairy fund account in the Reserve Bank it would not be added to the National debt, and he would wait with interest to see how t’ e, Aud.’t Department dealt with the account. If there was a surplus in the account it showed that the farmer had not received the market price for his produce. The Alinister hoped to balance the account, but he could not see how that could be done. He wished the Government luck with the Bill, and said that once it became law the Opposition would assist to ha* e its provisions carried out. Air. Kyle said that the Bill was the greatest piece of despotism that had ever been placed on the Statute Book of New Zealand. Minister in Reply The Hon. W. Nash (Alinister of Finance) in reply said that it did not seem to matter much who was to be Minister of Alarketing. The question about price was merely curiosity. Regarding the bank account, it had been said that if there* was a surplus nothing would be taken out of it, and if there was a loss that was a national loss in the interests of giving th o farmer an economic return for his labour. When fixing the price to be paid the dairy industry would be consulted. The price would be such that the dairy farmer would jump at it if it was offered by a private person. The Government as the only seller was not trying to exploit the market but to adjust the balance between the producer and consumer. He welcomed criticism of the type that came from Air. Hamilton, who had shown a standard of debate that was worthy of being followed bv members on both sides of the House.’ He alleged that Mr Polson had not played the. game in making some of the statements he did. Referring to requests for a plebiscite. Air. Nash said that the Govern-

nient had been in close touch with the dairy industry for months past. Opposition members had said that subsidising the farmers might affect negotiations with Britain, but the last Government had been subsidising the fanners for years past in the way of fertilisers, the free carriage of lime on the railways, and in other ways. The Bill* was read a third time and passed, and the House ruse at 5..»0 u.m. till 7.30 p.m.