BOARD OF TRADE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 303, 18 September 1919, Page 6

BOARD OF TRADE

' ; PROPOSED BILL CRITICISED,

■ A report of a committee set up to cou- . sider the 'Board of Trade Bill was pre- * sented to the conference of tho New Zealand' Farmers- Union yesterday by , Mr. G.vLi Marshall (Wellington). Mr. Marshall said tho Bill was a drastic measure, and conferred wide and drastic powera on the members of the board. The report of the committee was aa follows:—"The committeo is opposed to the principle of price-fixing, but if lesis- . lation is necessary in connection with combines, or to prevent profiteering, the committee mako the following suggestions:—Constitution of Board of Tradei That two members of the Board of ■Trade should be direct representatives of the primary industries, one to be nominated by the Farmers' 1 Union and one to 'be nominated T)y the Shipowners' Federation and th& A. «nd P. associations!- That'the majority of the board should be. present at any inquiry. That . no ono ' other than • a member of the board-should have power on the board. That when an inquiry is / to be hela tno same should be advertised, setting forth , fully the subject of the inquiry and inviting those interested to give evidence.. , That^U. any party interested feels ag- ; grieved tjt , the.finding of the board, such party shall have the right of appeal to the Supreme Court." .•■Mr. Marshall moved, and Mr. E. A. Ca'mpbell (Wanganui) seconded, that th« report bo adopted. Mr. W. D. Lysnar (Auckland) euid ■; .there,: was--no sympathy of interest between the producers and the commercial . people on the Boa'rdof Trade. Too much attention was devoted to the commercial interests, and he considered that the producers should demand representation on the board. : : ' Mr. 1. % .D. Duxfiold. (Auckland) held that every effort should be made , to abolish control.of prices. It was impossible to-qontrql,, prices properly, as it only meant interference .with the firtmors' .interests. ■>. He.was against tho setting up of the Board of Trade to fix prices. . 'Mr.'Er •Maxwell (Taraualci) said tno Bill conferred drastio powers on the ' boaid. There was no provision in the Bill for appeal against any decisions of the Board of Trade. . Mr. : E. Evans (Nortn Canterbury) sup? ported the Bill. Ho said the'measure would enaMo the farmers to show that they, were .not the people who were gaini"inffthe benefit of the high prices at pre■'sent'iulingV- • ' ■ Mr. Duxfiold moved- .an amendment "■that the-conference oniy endorse Hie 'Vfirst '-clause of the report? opposing tho "flxin»"of prices. .../•' The amendment, was defeated, and the f4report was adopted., •"