MEAT SUPPLY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2388, 18 February 1915, Page 6

MEAT SUPPLY

NEW SOUTH WALES' ACTION

STATE CONTROL PROMPT RESPONSE TO CALL FROM LONDON As mentioned in the brief cable messages an emergency bill arising out of the war was introduced by the Now South Wales Government last week concurrently in botli Houses to secure control of meat supplies in New South Wales for the purposes of the Imperial Army should the necessity arise. The Premier, Mr. W. A. IloLman-, said that it was not an occasion to ask why the Imperial Government wanted such legislation passed, but their duty was to accede patriotically to the request madei this sentiment being greeted with, general cheering by members in tho Legislative Assembly. In the Legislative Assembly Mr. Holman moved that so much of iihe' standing be suspended as would preclude tho bill being passed through all its stages at one sitting. He said that the matter was one of urgent necessity. This was -a very unusual procedure, and he realised, of course, that in introducing an entirely unforeseen measure he was breaking in on the compact made with the members of the Opposition. He felt that such action demanded a few words of explanation. He was authorised by His Excellency the Governor to read a cablegram which His Excellency had received from the Imperial authorities, and which -was the cause of their taking this entirely unusual course.'

The Cablegram. • A copy of the following telegram has been transmitted to each of the State Governors, and also to the Governorgeneral, and the telegram is' dated for purposes of reference February 9. "Considerable purchases of Australian meat will have to be made on behalf of His Majesty's Government in view of largely increased demand of the Army for meat, and also because of considerable purchases by the French Government.

"His Majesty's Government also desires to prevent any excessive advance in price in the United Kingdom of the existing supplies of meat of Australian origin which may not be required for the armies 9f tho Allies in the field.

"His Majesty's Government has already asked tho Government of Queensland to put into immediate operation the Queensland Act, No. 2 of 1914, and tho Government of Queensland is now in consultation with the meat companies to the steps that are to be taken. "His Majesty's Government will be grateful for the' co-operation of the Ministers of the State of New South Wales, in order that His Majesty's Government may secure the whole of the Australian supply of refrigerated beef and mutton available for export during the continuance of the war.

"Mr. Harcourt will be glad to receive the views of Sir Gerald Strickland s Ministers at the earliest possible date as to whether it is possible to secure this supply, and also to learn which are the methods which Ministers consider advisable for the object of securing this supply. ' "The export of beef and mutton, whether it bo refrigerated or fresh, is now forbidden from tho' United Kingdom." On receipt of this message, said Mr. Holrnan, His Excellency called his Ministers together, and, after consultation, tho Ministers advised His Excellency to inform tho Secretary of Stato for the Colonies that, in their opinion, the most satisfactory method of achieving the wishes or the Government would be for Parliament to carry legislation similar to that carried in Queensland. They informed His Excellency that they were prepared to provido for that legislation at once. _ His proposal was to introduce a Bill, which was the Queensland Bill adapted to New South Wales. It differed from . the Queensland B|ll in only three points. Firstly, whereas tho Queensland Bill provided thiit it must bo administered by the Chief Secretary by name, they had left the administration to "a Minister." That Minister would be tho Chief Secretary, but the provision would not be so rigorous as to prevent its administration by another Minister in tho event of anything happening to prevent the Chief Secretary carrying out tho duties.' Then, secondly, in tho Queensland Bill it was provided that the Minister should exorcise his functions in two ways. Ho could cither "secure" tho meat or stock, or "control, its disposition" without taking possession, so that it could not be sold without his permission. In their Act they had adopted that machinery in its entirety. The Queensland Act also provided that when stock was taken a board should be appointed to value it. The board, however, was not given any powers of observation. In the Bill to be introduced the board was to bo given power to carry out these functions.-.

"We have departed from the model of the Queensland Act," continued Mr. Holman, "in that we have added certain machinery and powers which were absolutely overlooked wlien the Queensland Act was passed. We give the board all the necessary powers, the powers of a Supreme Court Judgej to compel ovidonce and to prosecute for perjury. We say, with the Queensland Act, that the price to bo paid by way, of compensation to any stock taken by the Chief Secretary for the use of the Imperial Army is to be fixed by the board. But we deal with existing contracts differently. The _Queens!and Act says that where contracts exist'for any stock taken, that, contract price shall bo the price to be paid by way of compensation. We have been assured that where there are contracts in fexistence the price will generally bo a lower price than that fixed by the board. The other idea, we are assured, would leave us open to bo imposed upon by bogus contracts, really _ made subsequently to the Act coming into operation, but, dated back in order to cot the higher price. So wo haive decided to Icavo the compensation to bo absolutely fixed by the board in every case. "We make the Act admimstrable by any Minister. AVe give the board that determines tho compensation certain powers of investigation, and wo mako the compensation to be paid the market price, to be fixed by the board, irrespective of contracts. And with those three differences, this Bill is tlio samo Bill as referred to in tho Imperial Government's cablegram.- And with that candid explanation I venture to recommend tho Bill to this House.

"On an occasion like this," the Premier conculded, "it is not for us to argue, or t-o ask _ the reason why. (Cheers.) Wo nro invited to show our loyalty to the Imporial Go- eminent in its hour of crisis. I believe, I- may sny, that the British Government merely' wishes to have these powers in reserve in order to protccfc itself against any emergency that might arise in the future. But T know not, and I caro not. (Cheers.) We avo prepared to stand behind the Empire with our last man and our last shilling. (Cheers.) All Stock. Colonel Onslow: Will the measure proposed apply to stud stock and dairy stock" ? The Premier: Yes. Us powers will extend to everything without exception. Dr. Arthur'. Will the measure, if adopted, nll'ecl the local price of meal ? The Premier: It may; but if it does jso.wa ahull fen able to nmlso reproscu-

tations to tho Imperial authorities ill the case of supplies running low, pointing out that we can do no more. If that limit be readied we shall not hesitate to consult honourable members. 1 ersonally, I do not fear such a thing.

Opposition Approval. Mr. Lee said that, on behalf of the Leader of the Opposition, who was unavoidably .prevented from being present at tho sitting, ho wished to state that if he were present lie would acquiesce in the request made by tho lremier. (Opposition cheers.) Members of the Opposition gladly accepted the proposal brought forward Mr. AYaddell cordially supported tlio proposal, and suggested that tho Government might even go further in the way of assisting the Empire. This could ho done by the Government sending as many rabbits as possible to France and Belgium.

The Bill was passed, and sent to the Legislative Council.

In the Legislative Council tho Bill was' also passed through' all its stages without opposition.