§ Mr. R. McNEILLasked if the Minister's attention has been called to a decision reported to have been taken by the National Dairy Producers' Conference in New Zealand that butter and cheese shall be disposed of through the British Co-operative Wholesale Society, a company being formed to which that society and the producers shall contribute equally, on the arrangement that, the price being fixed by the producers, the Co-operative Wholesale Society should sell the produce as New Zealand produce on a percentage basis with division of surplus profits; if he will say, in view of the monopoly being acquired by the Co-operative Wholesale Society by means of this combine, on what evidence he bases his anticipation that the consumer in this country of New Zealand cheese will not suffer from any re-adjustment of trading arrangements that may take place; if he will say what powers he possesses to prevent this threatened cornering of imported dairy produce; and whether, if his powers are insufficient to deal with the matter, he will introduce legislation without delay conferring power for the purpose on his Department?
§ Mr. McCURDYI understand that no definite arrangements have been made, as suggested, between the National Dairy Producers' Association of New Zealand and the Co-operative Wholesale Society, but that certain proposals in the matter 1829W have been formulated and will be considered by the Co-operative Wholesale Society on the return to this country of their representatives. The Ministry will consider carefully the nature of any arrangements contemplated, but until I receive more definite information which will not be available until the arrival of the Society's representatives, I cannot state what action, if any, it may be necessary for the Ministry to take. In any case the intention of the Ministry is to maintain the existing restrictions on private dealing in imported butter in this country, and no difficulty as regards this commodity can therefore arise. As regards the last two parts of the question, the powers which I already possess, and for the continuance of which provision is made in the Ministry of Food Continuance Bill now before the House, are wholly adequate to safeguard the consumer.