FIRMLY ESTABLESHED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 05, Issue 70, 26 June 1942, Page 2

FIRMLY ESTABLESHED

PRIMARY PRODUCERS' CO-OPERATIVE NE,\V SEASON'S ACTIVITIES At last Executive meeting of the Auckland Farmers" Union Mr R. "R. Blade, Chairman of the Meat Committee, reported that satisfactory financ'.al arrangements had been made regarding the new company's formation during the coming season. Some of the delegates sought information as to the relative position of the company compared to other companies in seeking the farmers' business. It was explained that the Fat Stock Disposal Order made it very clear that farmers who sold their stock through particular firms for export must sell to the firm that handled their stock the previous season, unless they ejected to market their stock themselves or through their co-operative associations. The freedom of the farmer to consign his stock for export on his own account through any company or firm that he chose is in no wa3 T restricted. The purpose of the stay order had not been to prevent farmers from disposing of their stock through cooperative channels, but only to conserve petrol by rationalising collection.

Classing for the Works in classing sheep and lambs for the works ■there were official '"markers'* whose duty it was, when called upon by a farmer in his district, to grade Ins stock for him and it was no concern of his as to whose services the farmer chose to employ in the transport and killing. Several delegates then stated that in their own districts there were markers who in some cases Avcre known as the emplojees of private firms, and it did nol seem likely that they would treat with the fullest consideration the stock of a farmer who wanted his produce to go through the Co-operative Company. The chairman said the position was quite clear. According to the provisions of the Disposal Order the marker was an official whose duty began and ended Avith the grading of the stock when called upon. The farmer could, it he chose, do his own grading as well as make his own arrangements for trucks and transport. No canvassing was to be done by anyone, but the farmer was an entirely free agent to do what he liked with his stock on a consignment basis.