PLEA FOR THE BILL.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 October 1922, Page 5

PLEA FOR THE BILL.

SPEECH BY MR. O. HAWKEN. WHAT DELAY MEANS. COMPULSION NOT EXPECTED. (By Wire—Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, Last Night. The debate on the Dairy Pool Bill to-day did not raise many new points. The most important speech was made by Mr. O. Hawken (Egmont) as chairman of the special committee that had considered the Bill. Mr. Hawken said that he could give the House some up-to-date figures indicating the relative strength of the opponents and the supporters of the Bill among the dairy factories.

The total weight of butter graded in the Dominion last year had been 44,117 tons. Of that amount factories which were in favour of the Bill held 30.907 tons, while factories which were opposed to the Bill held 9013 tons. The total weight, of cheese graded was 60,317 tons, and factories which were opposed to the Bill held 14,364 tons. The tonnage basis was the fairest, in the speaker’s opinion, for such a comparison as he was making. It would be observed that while the supporters represented 65 per cent, of the whole, the oibjectors represented only 22 per cent. The factories which had expressed no opinion might be considered neutral. In examining witnesses the committee had found that there were many misapprehensions in regard to the intention of the Bill. The compulsory clause could not be brought into operation unless the Government itself was convinced of the necessity fox* the compulsory control of the industry. There was a further protection in the fact that while the committee had made provision for the expenses of the board, it had made no provision for the setting aside of reserve funds. Under these conditions there was. no chance that the board would accumulate reserve funds which would enable it to carry on the business without the consent of the Government.

He was convinced that the B.A.W.R.A. scheme and the meat export control scheme had saved the country hundreds of thousands of pounds. The member for Lyttelton claimed that freights from Australia to Britain compared more than favorably with those from New Zealand to Britain. He had the latest Australian figures, and would assert without hesitation that they proved the Meat Control Board had gained for New Zealand so considerable an advantage as to prove its great value to the producers of this country. “I don’t think for a moment that the compulsory clause of this Bill will be brought into force for some time to come.” added Mr. Hawken. “The machinery required and the knowledge required are not in New Zealand to* day, but if you put off passing the Bill tili next session the board cannot act, and it cannot inquire and it cannot send representatives to Britain before next session. If you do not pass the Bill this session it means really that two years must elapse before the scheme can operate. The new season will be opening soon after Parliament meets next year, and it will be impossible, for the board to act without full inquiry.”

He added: “The dairymen for years have been asking for a. measure of control to enable them to look after their own business better than it has been done. They are not satisfied that the distance between New Zealand and London is satisfactorily bridged at present. The dairymen know very little of what happens 'to their butter after it leaves here. I hope that this Bill will be proceeded with, because it is a measure that if cautiously handled by the board, will be of very great benefit to the New Zealand producers. Last year there were three big rises and three falls in the price of butter in the London market. That means without doubt that there was speculation or that the supply was not properly regulated, probably the latter. “I believe that the Bill will help the producers, and I cannot understand the objection to the Bill on the part of the Liberal Opposition. I think that the Liberals should re-name themselves and call themselves the old Conservative Party. No matter what is proposed they" always suggest that we postpone it, and wait to see which way the cat will jump or something else.” The report was laid on the table after an amendment moved by Mr. R. Masters (Stratford) to refer it back to the committee had been defeated. This means that the Bill is restored to the order paper.