FARM PRODUCE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 2, 25 August 1944, Page 5

FARM PRODUCE

MARKETING AND MAINTENANCE

FARMERS DESIRE CONTROL-

Aft the meeting of farmers at Edgecumbe lastt Tuesday evening, Mr C. R. Wilson took the opportunity of raising !the question, of farmers controlling and marketing their owni produce in its entirety. He maintained! that until this was done there would always be dissatisfaction amongst the farming community who felt thajt' they had a just right to handle and arrange their own affairs. He suggested, therefore, that the Dairy Board be requested to ask for the handing over of the marketing of all dairy produce to the farmers themselves. No harm could be done, he claimed as the marketing could be carried out in exactly the same manner as it was to-day but. instead of the Minister negotiating trade, the' farmers themselves would appoint their own officer wiiose duty it would be. to make the best contract possible. The day when the dairy farmer said good-bye- to his cream as soon as it left the gate had passed and he maintained that if farmers were given, this, right it could lead to all sorts of benefits which would consolidate the industry.

"Imagine for instance," he said, "the farmers' organisation ordering two thousand tractors and thereby enabling farmers to buy them at landed co?t." This was only one of the things which could be accomplished and it behoves the farmers to plan and look ahead instead of ldtting others do it for them.

Mr Withy seconding the motion, said that the only real thing unsatisfactory to the farmers at the present time was the lack of. control of their produce.

Mr Radcliffe, rising to the point of order contended that as the, sub-

ject had not been set down in the agenda, it should be deferred till a later meeting.

Mr McCracken agreed that such a motion going forward was premature as the subject was being handled by the Dairy Board at the present time, and fuller information would be forthcoming.

Mr Wilson thereupon agreed to withdraw his motion and hold the matter over for later consideration.

Mr McCracken: The Government has in mind that these lump sum grants have been made to them for the benefit of the whole community. Mr C. R. Wilson: The Government by getting it in a lump sum feels that it can evade the letter of the agreement. Mr Withy then moved that the meeting give hearty support to the action of the conference in its presentations (printed above). He was; seconded by Mr Andrew McLean who considered the resolution well-balanced and timely. Not Militant Enough Mr E. J. Bell contended that if the Government was going to utilise the. money for the benefit of the community and not for the producers lor whom it was obviously intended the farmers would have to nake a stand and demand then rights. The Imperial Government md paid out in all good faith, and :he producers, should get it. He. did lot think the motion stringent or niliteristic enough. The Govcrnnent should be told outright what he farmer thought. "We don't know enough about this hiirg yet" said Mr Bob Dunning n advising caution. "Its no good blowing the big stick around unil you know what you're going to lit. The time may come when wc fhould take very strong action, but lot yet." The motion was. then carried unanimously.