MINISTER’S ACTION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 January 1943, Page 2

MINISTER’S ACTION

IN REGARD TO WOOL PRICE INCREASE CHALLENGED BY PRESIDENT OF FARMERS’ UNION. • DENIAL OF NEGOTIATIONS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. A protest against what he describes as “the unconstitutional and, for a Minister of the Crown, improper action” of the Minister of Marketing, Mr Barclay, in making public a Stabilisation Committee recommendation to the War Cabinet, is made by the president of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, Mr W. W. Mulholland, in a letter to the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser.

Referring to Mr Barclay’s statement at Oamaru (reported yesterday) on proposals for the distribution of the wool price increase, he says: — “I have always understood that recommendations of this nature were confidential, at least till they had been dealt with by Cabinet, and that it was improper for anyone, even a Minister, to reveal such a matter, at least till it had been dealt with by Cabinet. “However, it would seem that Mr Barclay has deliberately attempted to prejudice the War Cabinet in the eyes of the public in coming to any different decision from that which he has already announced. This action is, to say the least, unusual in British constitutional practice. “Mr Barclay’s statement gives the misleading impression that he has been in active and continuous negotiation with representatives of the sheepowners, particularly the Sheepowners’ Federation. I am informed by the secretary of the Sheepowners’ Federation that he has had no communication from Mr Barclay on this matter since the two conferences last June. “I as chairman of the Farmers’ Federation and also as president of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, know that these two bodies have had no communication from Mr Barclay on the matter since that date.

“Mr Donnelly in his official capacity as chairman of the Stabilisation Committee then sitting, waited on the meeting of the electoral committee of the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board at its meeting in August, and made a statement. That statement cannot be construed as being in any sense negotiation, and the action of that committee, I understand, was to refer the matter to the committee representing wool producers, which had been set up at the conference in June. Since then there have been no discussions with bodies that could claim to represent the sheepowners of New Zealand.

“If Mr Barclay, or anybody on his behalf, has discussed the matter with individuals, that action cannot be construed as being negotiations with the sheepowners’ representatives. His further statement that various aspects (of the administration of the Stabilisation Fund) were at present being discussed with the Sheepowners’ Federation appears to be equally incorrect.” CANTERBURY PROTEST. A Christchurch Press Assn, -message states that the North Canterbury Farmers’ Union will ask the Dominion executive to make the strongest protest against any withholding. of the 15 per cent wool price increase. This decision was reached yesterday by the North Canterbury executive, which also agreed to ask that New Zealand sheepfarmers be given the same treatment, as Australian. Mr I. L. M. Coop criticised Mr Barclay’s recent reference to inflation. Mr Coop said that, on the contrary, many were applying for rent reductions because they could not continue at the present wool price, and without the 15 per cent it would be uneconomic to produce wool. He knew of sheepyards and fences falling down all over New Zealand. Prices had risen, the Government wanted wool and the farmer definitely needed the extra 15 per cent. Mr K. Hall said the Minister’s reference to inflation was impertinent, and asked what right the Government had to “pinch” any of the money meant for the farmer.