SHEEP INDUSTRY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20044, 16 September 1939, Page 15

SHEEP INDUSTRY

COMMISSION OF INQUIRY WILL IT BE DISBANDED?. RESULT OF THE WAR GISBORNE OPINION Opinion in Gisborne supports the view that the commission inquiring into the difficulties of the sheep industry will be disbanded very shortly. This is supported in advice received by the Poverty Bay provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union, which met yesterday afternoon.

The secretary, Mr. C. Blackburn, reported having dispatched the following telegram to the Dominion secretary during the week: “In view of the altered economic situation, we presume the commission will disband. Locally >no statements are being prepared.”

The Dominion secretary's reply was: ‘‘ln my personal opinion the commission will not reach Gisborne, but I will not, take the responsibility of saying so officially.” Carry On In Meantime

‘‘The Government’s decision is that the commission is to carry on in the meantime,” the Dominion secretary wrote in a following letter. ‘'Personally, I think that the commission will be disbanded in a few weeks, but I am not prepared to take the responsibility of advising you to this effect officially, because it may happen that the commission will be told to carry on, and I have only my individual opinion in support of my idea that it will be disbanded. '

‘‘However, I certainly think it would be advisable for you to be prepared to go forward if necessary.”

The provincial president, Mr. J. E. Benson, said that a great deal of work and expense was involved, and it appeared certain that the Dominion’s products would be commandeered. In any case, the continuation of the commission’s work was not the right spirit to take up in war time. Mr. J. E. Brosnahan said that the war probably would be a long one, and any decisions arrived at now might be upset in a few years. A voice: Perhaps in a few months. Time Not Ripe Mr. T. Pi. Jones agreed that the time was not ripe for going on with the commission. He urged that the work should be discontinued and the members of the committee working cn preparing data to be placed before the commission be thanked for their work. Mr. G. S. Bridge urged that the Government should be asked to make a definite statement on the matter.

The president: We are at war now, and we feel that tire time is inopportune to go on with the commission.

Mr. Jones: It shows that we realise what the Government is up against now. There is no politics in the Government now.

On the motion of Mr. Brosnahan, the meeting decided to send the following to the head office of the union: “That the members of the sub-com-mittees be thanked for the work they have done, but in view of the altered conditions since the war started the commission would in all probability not proceed with their efforts.”