A NEW COUNCIL

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 93, 14 January 1935, Page 8

A NEW COUNCIL

4 Control of Primary Industries APPOINTMENTS SOON Cabinet to Make Final Selection One of several questions of the first importance to be considered by Cabinet within a day or two affects the interests of the primary industries, and the Dominion’s export trade. As indicated by the Alinister of Finance, the. Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, from Auckland last Saturday, the appointment of three members of the Executive Commission of Agriculture and the members of the reconstituted Dairy Board may be finalised this week. “Providing no hitch occurs,” the Minister added, “these appointments should be announced during the week.” As was to be expected in the circumstances, there has been a great deal of conjecture throughout the country about the prospective personnel of what the recent Dairy Commission recommended as a Council of Production and Trade. Alauy names have been mentioned, and in each instance those citing them have been as confident in prediction as, though probably no more certain than, racecourse prophets. So far, nothing authoritative about the Government’s final selection has been disclosed, and there may be a surprise or two.

It appears to be generally anticipated, however, by representatives of some of the primary industries concerned, that among those most prominent in the running for selection are Air. David Jones, chairman of the New Zealand Aleat Producers’ Board, and Air. George Andrew Duncan, secretary of the Hawera Dairy Company, who was a member of the Dairy Commission It does not follow, of course, that they will be appointed, but if they are not selected there will be at least much disappointment. Air. Jones is at present in London supporting the High Commissioner. Sir James Parr, in conferences or discussions with representatives of the British Government concerning meat quotas or threatened restrictions on New Zealand products to the United Kingdom. He is certainly acquiring first-hand knowledge of the British Government’s policy and detailed proposals on the vital question—an experience which ob-' viously would be of great value in connection with the responsible activities of the new Council of Production. But, as already emphasised, the final appointments represent a Cabinet secret. Dairy Commission’s Views. In view of the nearness of the Government’s decision, the reasons given by the Dairy Commission for reconsidering the establishment of an executive council of production may be summarised. The commission urged that under the conditions now prevailing, when an intense economic nationalism had severely restricted New Zealand’s export trade, a policy of co-operation and co-ordination for the independent boards dealing with the Dominion’s products had become urgently necessary. It. pointed out that the interests of the producers served by the different boards might conflict, or appear to conflict, as was the case in respect of restrictions on the export to Great Britain of bobby-veal (there have been no exports since July 12 last), boneless beef, and pig-meats (a restriction on the export of porker pigs to the United Kingdom is now in operation), which concern the dairy-farmer to a far greater extent than the sheep-farmer and the grazier, but which are dealt with by the Aleat Producers’ Board. The commission also emphasised that diversification of production urged by any individual board to meet restrictions of export might have repercussions ■in creating a larger surplus of products handled by another board, which also might be faced with restrictions. It-was recommended that the advisory functions of the proposed council should include advice and assistance to the Government in arranging new shipping services and negotiating trade agreements with overseas countries, marketing, and collaborating with the Government iif the appointment of trade representatives abroad —a question which is receiving attention by the Administration. Term of Appointment. The ’commission further recom-. mended that the council should consist of three members to be appointed by the Government for five years and eligible for reappointment, and that they should devote their whole time to the work of the council, salaries and expenses to be a charge on the Consolidated Fund. When the recommendations were adopted by the Government and given statutory form by Parliament it. was enacted that the Alinister of Agriculture shall be chairman of the council. As regards the reconstitution of the Dairy Produce Control Board, the commission recommended the board's replacement by a board consisting of right members of whom four should be elected by the industry, and the other four appointed by the Government.