IN POOR STRAITS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 60, 8 September 1926, Page 5

IN POOR STRAITS

KAURI GUM INDUSTRY

IS IT DUE TO CONTROL?

"AN ELECTION DODGE."

That control legislation, at any rate so far as the kauri gum industry is concerned, has not achieved the object it was desired to do was the assertion made by Mr. J. S. Diekson (Parnell) in the House of Representatives yesterday. The discussion arose when the report on the kauri gum industry was presented. Mr. W. E. Parry (Auckland Central) said that since the passing of the Kauri Gum Act last session very little had been heard about the operation of the Act. He believed that the Bill was a dead letter, and had been merely an election dodge. Colonel Allen Bell (Bay of Islands) said that it was very plain that the last speaker did not know his subject. When the proposed regulations were issued there was a lot of dissension amongst the gum-diggers. The Minister had done everything he possibly could do under difficult conditions'. Mr. J. M* Combs (Lyttelton) said the matter was of importance. He moved as an amendment that the report be referred to the Lands Committee. OpposMon to the Kauri Gum Industry Control^.ct was voiced by Mr. J. S. Dickson (Parnell). Mr. J. A, Nash (Palmerston North): "Did you support dairy control?" Mr. Dickson: "I say, without fear of contradiction, that the thing we are suffering from is because of the thing we have set up. It has absolutely ruined the kauri gum trade." The merchants and brokers had been accused of robbing the diggers, but the Government, which had entered the trade, had, like the merchants, lost money. There was over £200,000 worth of gum in store in Auckland. Colonel Bell had wanted the Act, but after he had seen how it was going to operate he did not desire it to come into force. The Minister of Lands: "That is very unfair." Mr. Dickson said that merchants in Auckland had thousands of pounds owing by storekeepers on the gumfields. Mr. Nash: "Has that been caused | through the Control Board!" " Mr. Dickson: "It would have been much better if the Government had not interfered." Mr. Nash: "Do you believe in the Control Board?" Mr. Dickson: "If yon know as little about butter as you know about gum Mr. Speaker: "Order!" "This industry only affects the Auckland Province, and it ill becomes a South Island member to interfere," said Mr. T. W. Rhodes (Thames), referring to the amendment. The people in his and in other northern districts were awaiting the report very anxiously. To hear some people talk one would think that the gum industry had been extinguished, but that was very far from being the case. His district produced the very best gum to be found. Mr. H. T. Armstrong (Christchurch East): '' Any chewing gum ? " (Laughter.) Mr. Rhodes: "Yes, all sorts of gum." He hoped that the Act would be put into operation. The amendment was lost on the voices. •• Replying to the discussion, the Minister of Lands (the Hon. A. D. M'Leod) I said that he had personally discussed i with the diggers the question of how control should operate, . and he had found that differences of opinion exist- [ cd. There had been a difficulty in arriving at any sort of agreement, but every endeavour would be made to have regulations gazetted. The sooner the Government was out of the gum business the better, but he wanted to giye the board an opportunity of making a start. He did not think that subsidising of an industry was to be encouraged, as it always led to difficulties, but he admitted.that at certain periods the gum industry was worth subsidising. He hoped to get ahead with the election of the board as soon as possible. The .report was adopted.