Cite: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4687611

Tags (Keywords)

Add New Tags

Comments

No comments yet.

Add New Comment

No corrections yet

WHEAT POOL

QUESTION OF CONTINUANCE.

BATTLE OF TACTICS.

A motion by the Acting Prime Minister (Sir Jobeph Cook) that a,paper presented by the chairman oí the Australian Wheat Board (Senator Russell), with reference to the shipment of flour, be printed, gave rise, in tlie Hou&c of Representatives, to an animated debate of the wbett problem.

The deputy leader of the Country party (Mr. Gregory) moved an amendment to add the following:

"Having in view the unsettled trading »nil financial conditions that exist as a result el the var, Ulis Houfc is of opinion that the continuance of the prcnent wheat pool for the purpose of dis- posing of the 1921-Ï2 wheat crop is necessary in the tfcteta_ts of the wbiatgroaaers of the Cona-1

naonwealth." .

Mr. Riley (N.S.W.) raised a point ot| order tliat the question of the wheat pool

had been debated durang the week on an, amendment to the motion for supply moved by the deputy leader of the Caucus party (Mr. Ryan).

Mr. Gregory.-My amendment

different lines.

Mr. Blakelcy '(NAW.).-This is your apology to the wheat-growers of Aus-

tralia,

Mr. Gregory said that the amendment, as moved by Mr. Ryan, bad been an in- struction to the Ministry to retain the wheat pool as a permanent institution. His own amendment simply asked that the Act- ing Prime Minister should bring his influ- ence to bear to retain the pool for the 1021-22 season only.

Mr. Blakelcy.-Have you tlie courage to instruct the Acting Prime Minister accord- ingly?

The deputy Speaker (Mr. Chanter) ruled that the amendment was in order.

Mr. Gregory said that tlie pool had been constituted as a war measure. Although no one was more averse from the principle than himself, and he certainly did not wish to see it retained permanently, he thought that its retention for tlie J921-22 wheat har- vest was necessary m all the circumstances. To terminate the pool now, within a few months of the new harvest, would mean tliat the growers would-be left wholly to the mercy of one or two great trading con- cerns. As a West Australian representa- tive, he had aproached Sir Joseph Cook on behalf of Hie wheat-producers of that State. The guarantee for which growers were asking was nothing but a reasonable financial proposition. In Victoria a ballot had been taken among the growers, and an overwhelming majority had declared m favour of a compulsory pool. He was a strong believer m the co-operative move- ment. It should be built up in the variou» States, so that Australian wheat-growers, as those in Canada, would be able to go into the markets of London and other parts of the world, independently of large dealers. Ho would like to see a co-operative scheme launched on a large scale in Australia with that object. As far as possible, such things should be left to the producers themselves. They should be aided in the early stages, aud then allowed to develop their interests on their own lines. He would like Sir Joseph Cook to say that even if South Aus- tralia would not come in

Mr. Blakcley.-I am glad to see you are coming to our way of thinking.

Mr. Gregory.-One or two States had their own organisation, and they Bhould bo lvermittcd to have it. Mr. Ryan hnd tried to make a political move for the Purpose of putting the members of tbe Country party into an awkward position. He could make his excuses for that move, but tlie public would be able to judge. (Continued Caucus interruption.)

Mr. Stewart (V.) seconded the amend- ment, and said that the action which

avas being taken by Mr. Gregory was in pursuance of the wishes of an overwhelm- ing majority of wheat-growers.

The deputy leader of the Caucus party (Mr. Charlton) said that it came as a shock to him to find that the Ministry had facilitated Mr. Gregory's endeavour to redeem himself and the members of his

party in the eyes of the electors, in view of the stand they had taken in regard to the continuance of the wheat pool. It seemed to him that sufficient time would not be available for an adequate discussion of such an important question. The Coun- try party was now asking the Ministry to agree to a continuance of the wheat pool. It was not a question whether the Ministry would approach the Slates. It was a strange thing that when the question avas debated earlier in Hie week there avas hardly a word said hythe Country party. They sat dumbly. _ '

Mr. Stewart.-Dumb with astonishment at the tactics of hon. members opposite.

Mr. Charlton.-Simply because the repre- sentatives of the producers of Australia

thought fit to ask the Ministry for a con-1 , tinuance of the wheat pool!

A Country Party Member.-Your résolu- i tion meant more than that. '

Sir Joseph Cook.-It was party poli- J tics. \

Caucas Party's Amendment.

Mr. Charlton.-Tlie Acting Prime Min- ister knew very well that there was no- thing hcliind Mr. Gregory's amendment. It was a blank cartridge brought in to cover up the tracks of those who had neglected their business. Tile Labour party repre- sented the primary producers, and was endeavouring to do its duty by them. Every time there was a difficult situation, and the Ministry avas likely to be defeated, there was a divided party. He moved, as an amendment upon Mr. Gregory's amend-

ment:

"That, in the opinion of this House, members of the Country party are blameworthy tor their failure to fcupport the amendment of the leader of the Caucus party (Mr. Ilvan) in favour of the continuance of the Wheat Pool."

Mr. -Moloney (N.S.W.), m supnorting Mr. Chorlton's amendment, said that he lipped the dilemma in which Mr. Gregory and his part)* had placed themselves would be clear to the people. The only reason which the Country parly had given for its refusal to support Mr. Ryan B amend- ment to the Supply Bill in favour of the continuance of the pool was that it meant something, and since then it lind appar- ently been putting heads together with that of the Ministry vrith the object of finding a way out. When Mr. Gregory might liave helped the wheatgrowers he hod deserted them. Surely the immunity offered by tlie Country party to Mr. Hughes did not mean that it would allow the Prime Minister to violate his election

pledges, yet this was what the Country Ëarty had done. Rather than abandon Mr.

[uglies, the Country party w ould abandon the wheatgrowers. Mr. Hill and Mr. Stew- art had been spurring on their colleagues in the State House to insist on a wheat pool. Tfiey did not mind sending them to the country, but they would not take that risk themselves. AU the whitewashing and all the amendments in the world would not explain away the conduct of the Coun- try pal ty. The Bham should be exposed

for what it was.

At five minutes to 1 o'clock, in order to prevent the motion from lapsing, Mr. Stewart (V.) moved that the question be put, interrupting Mr. Moloney's npeecli. The Caucus party called for a division, Mr. Blakeley (N.S.W.) remarking, "The acting Prime Minister ordered the Coun- try party to put on the gag, and it did HO," to which Sir Joseph Cook retorted that Mr. Blakeley's imagination avas vivid enough to supply the material for a novel. The motion that the qnestion be put was agreed to by 28 votes to 12, Caucus mem- bers only opposing it. Mr. Charlton's amendment, greeted by jeers from the Country party, was then put and defeated by 29 votes to 12. After this division, Mr. Charlton raised the point of order .that the time allowed for the consideration of tlie motion having expired at 1 o'clock, Mr. Gregory's amendment could not lie submitted to the House, but the Deputy Speaker (Mr. Chanter) ruled that the process of disposing of the motion and amendments must be completed.

Mr. Moloney then moved, as a further amendment, lo add to Mr. Gregory's mo- tion the words:

'.And that, an order to idimulate prodnction and stabilise the industry, the Ministry phonld provide for an adéquat« guarantee per bushel at railway sidings."

Sir Joseph Cook objected that no fresh amendment could be introduced, and tho Deputy Speaker sustained the objection.

Amid laaigbtcr from the Caucus party, and cries of "What a dod!" the amend- ment, as moved by Mr. Gregory, was then pul to the House and agreed to on the voices, and the motion to print the paper, as amended, was also agreed to.

Zoom

plus
thumb
minus
left
thumb
right
up
thumb
down