PRIMARY EXPORTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 October 1939, Page 2

PRIMARY EXPORTS

MEASURES OF WAR TIME CONTROL LEGISLATION OF WIDE SCOPE. MINISTER OF MARKETING OUTLINES POLICY. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. "Four years ago the Primary Products Marketing Department took over the marketing of all New Zealand butter and cheese and in that time it has built up a procedure that is almost complete,” said the Minister of Marketing, Mr Nash, in opening the second reading debate in the House of Representatives last night on the Marketing Amendment Bill. “The procedure is not perfect,” said the Minister. “Nothing is perfect, but the procedure has been recognised as almost complete by almost every other country in the world. The Bill is designed to extend that procedure to other products, to meat and wool and their by-products, and to any other product.” / The Bill was one of major importance, said the Minister. It would extend orderly and rational marketing .to all the products' that the United Kingdom required from New Zealand, and it was a question whether any other organised body connected with the commerce of this or any other country was better fitted to take over that duty than the Primary Products Marketing Department. It had allowed producers in New Zealand as well as retailers and consumers in Great Britain to reap real advantages. ENLARGING PRODUCTION. It was intended, Mr Nash continued, to supply to the United Kingdom the maximum quantity of foodstuffs, wool, and other products the Dominion could produce, at the lowest possible price consistent with a fair return to the producer, and allowing; for all charges necessary. “I would say that this country can make as great a contribution to the needs of the Old Country as any other single agent,” said Mr Nash. “The department is in a position to take over at a moment’s notice.” The initial object of the Bill was to give effect to the request of the United Kingdom that New Zealand should become its agent for the purchase of certain products, and as these were not all necessarily primary products, it was necessary to change the name. Mr George Duncan, at present director of the export division of the Primary Products Marketing Department, would become director of the export division of the Marketing Department, and no better man could have been selected for the job. “It is imperative that every unnecessary charge between the producer and the Government of the Old Country should be eliminated,” said Mr Nash “It would have been criminal for New Zealand or the United Kingdom to allaw the haggling that generally arises when there is a strong demand. This procedure will ensure that the producer gets his full share of the price paid.” I BRITAIN AS SOLE BUYER. The United Kingdom would be the sole buyer, said the Minister. It would, for instance, take the whole New Zealand wool clip, but presumably the United Kingdom would sell to other countries after its own needs had been met. Negotiations on this point were still proceeding, but it was hoped that an announcement would be made before the session closed. Mr Nash said that conferences had been held with representatives of all sections of the wool trade to find a fair price for New Zealand wool. A report had been submitted that formed the basis of the Government’s offer to the United Kingdom. There was still an element of bargaining in these negotiations, because it had not yet been established what share New Zealand might take in the event of New Zealand wool being resold at a profit. Purchasing of all other commodities would be financed in the same manner as the purchase of dairy produce, the Minister said.

Sir Alfred Ransom (Opposition, Pahiatua): “I hope the price for wool will not be less than the Australian price.” Mr Nash: “Comparatively I think it will be quite as good.” Mr Dickie (Opposition, Patea): “Is this arrangement for the period of the war only, or is it permanent?” Mr Nash: “It is not permanent. The House is, of course, in control, as I said the other night. It will be brought before the House to ensure that the House has the last say when the war is over and after a period for necessary adjustments.” The Minister concluded by paying a tribute to the splendid co-operation he had been given by all connected with the marketing of New Zealand produce. “SOCIALISTIC BILL” MR COATES’S CRITICISM. DETAILED INFORMATION. SOUGHT. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The contention that the Government was taking advantage of the present emergency to initiate a major policy was advanced by Mr Coates (Opposition, Kaipara) during the second reading debate on the Marketing Amendment Bill in the House of Representatives last night. The producers, he said, were entitled to know the arrangements for the purchase of their produce by l the British Government. There were numerous points which required elucidation by the Minister of Marketing. Mr Nash. “This is not a time for a major policy to be initiated,” said Mr Coates. “It is a time of emergency, and it seems that the situation is being seized upon by the Government to initiate some pet policy of the Government. The produce of the farmers is to be taken at the will of the Government and at whatever price- it chooses to fix. “Just what is the Government’s position in relationship to the British Government, and the producers of this country?” asked Mr Coates. “When is the produce to be paid for—when it reaches Great Britain, or in New Zealand? Is the shipping to be arranged by the British Government or the New Zealand Government, and what is the point of payment?” FACTS WANTED BY FARMERS. Every farmer in New Zealand, continued Mr Coates, wanted to know what arrangements had been made, for they were all concerned. The producers were all looking for a state*

ment outlining the situation and the procedure that was to be followed. Mr Barclay (Government, Marsden): “You cannot get that till the deal is completed.” “These negotiations have been going on for weeks now and some information should'be possible,” added Mr Coates. “It is of importance to every grazier, both big and small, to know what is going to happen. The season will open in a fortnight, and the stock is ready for processing now. The same applies to pork and bacon. The Meat Board has all the information that is required in regard to the cost of processing.” The necessity for some relationship between the price paid to the New Zeland producers and those of other countries for the same commodity was referred to by Mr Coates. He mentioned the effect of increases in freight rates, insurance and exchange and the higher cost of fertilisers due to the advance in the cost of sulphur and nitrate of soda. The farmers were up against increased costs, but they had to carry on and no one seemed to care. The farmers were entitled to know what care the Government was taking to protect their interests. FEARS OF DOMINATION. “There is nothing that frightens the producers more than domination by a Government,” said Mr Coates. “They should be made to feel that the Government is their friend and out to help them. Co-operation demands collaboration. Has the British Government asked the New Zealand Government to fix the price of the produce produced by the farmer, or has it asked the Government here to act as agent?” \ Mr Nash: “The British Government has asked the New Zealand Government to buy the produce and the New Zealand Government will do that and sell at the agreed price.” Mr Coates: “Is it intended that the New Zealand Government should make a profit?” Mr Nash: “No, not from the British Government or from the producers.” Mr Coates: “Then the New Zealand Government is just an agent.” Mr Nash: “I did not say that.” Mr Coates asked to what extent the producers were brought into consultation. They were entitled to know what

was being done. The Bill should have contained a clause providing for representatives of the producers to be consulted in order to obtain the best co-operation. Could any member of the Government deny that the Bill laid down a policy which was Socialism if not Communism. How was the farmer to be protected from the ever-increas-ing costs?