a.—3o

6

Slaughtering and Inspection Amendment Act, 1918, was passed. This Act came into operation on the Ist January, 1919. Section 7of that Act reads as follows : —- 7. (1.) No license under the principal Act shall be granted, renewed, or transferred in respect of any meat-export slaughterhouse without the consent of the; Minister of Agriculture. (2.) Without in any manner restricting the discretionary power conferred on the Minister by the principal Act, he may refuse his consent under this section if he is of opinion, on such grounds as in his discretion he deems sufficient, that the business of the meat-export slaughterhouse has been carried on, or is about to be carried on, in a manner contrary to the public interest. The law relating to the export of meat in New Zealand was further altered in the year 1921-22, when an Act called the Meat-export Control Act, 1922, was passed. The preamble thereof reads as follows : — 1921 -22, No. 73. An Act to make Provision for the Appointment of a Meat-producers Board, with Power to Control the Meat-export Trade. Whereas the economic welfaro of New Zoaland has lately been adversely affected by reason of a reduction in the net returns receivable by persons engaged in the business of the production of meat for export, such reduction being due in part to falling prices and in part to the charges payable in respect of freight and other services : And whereas conferences have lately been held by representatives of the Government and of persons whose business is the production of meat for export, and it has been resolved that the public economic welfare will be promoted by the establishment of a Board of Control, with power to act as the agent of the producers in respect of the preparation, storage, and shipment of moat, and in respect of the disposal of such meat beyond New Zealand : And whereas it is desired to give esffect to the resolutions aforesaid, and to provide by law accordingly : And whereas it is further deemed necessary and desirable that the expenditure of the Board of Control should be subject to audit as if it were public expenditure, and that the expenditure of the Board should be guaranteed by the Government of New Zealand. Section 2, subsections (1), (2), and (3), read as follows 2. (1.) There is hereby established a Board, to be known as the New Zealand Meatproducers Board (hereinafter referred to as " the Board "). (2.) The Board shall consist of — (a.) Two persons to be appointed by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Minister of Agriculture as representatives of the New Zealand Government: (b.) Five persons to be appointed by the Governor-General as representatives of the producers of meat for export, on election by such producers in such manner as may be prescribed. (3.) In addition to the members to be appointed pursuant to the last preceding subsection, the Governor-General may from time to time appoint a member as a representative of persons for the time being engaged in business as stock and station agents. Every such member shall be appointed for a term of two years, but may at any time be removed from office by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Board, or may from time to time be reappointed on the expiry of any term of his appointment. Section 5, subsection (2), reads— At the first meeting the Board shall appoint one of its members to be the Chairman of the Board. Section 12, subsections (1) and (2), read as follow : —• (1.) After the constitution of the Board, or after such later date as the Board may by public notice appoint, no contract for the carriage by sea of any meat to be exjiorted from New Zealand shall be made save by the Board, acting as the agent of the owners of that meat or of other persons having authority to export that meat, or in conformity with conditions to be approved by the Board. (2.) Every contract for the carriage of meat by sea made otherwise than in conformity with this section shall be void. In respect of legislation, it is to be noted that the National Ministry was in power when the Act of 1918 was passed, and that the Minister who then held the portfolio of Minister of Agriculture was the late Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald. Political Situation, September, 1923. In September, 1923, the New Zealand Parliament was sitting. The Reform Government, or Massey party, was holding office with a very small majority —so