BILL'S PROVISIONS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 60, 3 December 1937, Page 3

BILL'S PROVISIONS

-Pres» ARsnrinHnn I

Control of . a Internal Marketing FIXING OF PRICES

(By Telegraph-:

WELLINGTON, Dec. l._ Important proposals to control the marketing of foodstuffs within. the Dominion are eontained in the Primaryj Products Marketing Amendment Bill' which was introduced by GovemorGeneral's mes3age in the House tonight. The Bill provides for the subdivision of the Primary Products Marketing Department into a dairy produce export division and an internal marketing division. Eull powers are given for the fixing of prices and conditions of sale for dairy produce, fruit, honey, eggs and any other foodstuffs specified from time to time by Order-in-Council. The Bill makes provision for the appointment of directors of the two separate divisions of the department and there is also power for the setting up of further divisions if they are required, each to be under the control of a director. With respect to the existing organisation Mr. C. A. Duncan is to hold office as director of the Dairy Export Division and Mr. E. N. Picot director of the Internal Marketing Division. Authority is given for the appointrnent of officers to deputise for the directors where necessary and for delegation by the Minister of the powers which he holds under the principal Act. Necessary amendments are made with regard to the manner in which the func- • tions of the department are .to be exercised. The most important part of the Bill gives the Department power to fix prices for dairy produce, fruit, honey, eggs and any other foodstuffs prescribed by Order-in-Couneil. The prices may be fixed in respect of any defined districl or locality or for the whole of New Zealand and they may refer to either the wholesale or retail prices at which any foodstuffs covered by the legislation may be bought or sold. In addition margins may be fixed within which tho foodstuffs concerned may be bought or sold and general conditions may be laid down to govern saies. Margins may be fixed as maximum prices and minimum prices or by Teferences to the amounts or percentages by which selling prices may exceed buying prices. There is a requirement that the prices, margins or conditions ofsale fixed by the Department must be notified to the persons directly affected. The principal Aet imposes a penalty [ for the sale of dairy produce except at j fixed prices. This provision, with its penalties ranging from £200 in the j case of an individual to £1000 in the | case of a company or corporation, is extended to cover the saies of other foodstuffs now to be brought under the legislation. The Bill states that in order to secure the economic and orderly marketing in New Zealand of any foodstuffs to which the legislation applies, regulations may be made if necessary authorising the Department to take at fixed prices any of the foodstuffs concerned and to export the quantity which is not required for locai consumption, . Begulations may also be made authorising the • Department to control the export. oi foodstuffs by any other person oi authority. There is provision for tli^ p.ppointment of advisory committees to assist the Department in its operatious. The internal marketing division is to have a separate account at the Beserve Bank with the same overdraft provisions which apply in the case of the Dairy Industry Account. This borrowing authority for fhe Internal Marketing Division is made retrospective to September 20, 1937. All moneys derived from the operations of' the division are to be paid into the Internal Marketing Account and payments from the apcount are authorised for the following pur^ poses: — Acquisition of foodstuffs or Other commodities, charges in rospect of freight, insuranee, storage or marketing, interest due to the Beserve Bank on any overdraft and administrativo expenses. Payments are to be authorised out of the Dairy Industry Account or the Internal Marketing Account for the purpose of equalising the returns from dairy produce or other commodities. • .