PRODUCE CONTROL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 58, 25 July 1947, Page 6

PRODUCE CONTROL

FEDERATED FARMERS STAND Since the Provincial Council of Federated Farmers (Auckland Province) pledged their support to retention of co-operative-producer control and invoked the assistance of the entire Federation throughout the Dominion, in an effort to come to the aid of the Amburys Town Milk Group, the matter has been again very fully deliberated upon at a further meeting ol the Provincial Executive of the Dairy Section. Again their findings were completely endorsed by the Provincial Council.

It is intended by the Auckland Federation that every resistance must be offered to any attempt which aims at closing the door to any Organisation of farmer-produc-ers who co-operatively control their product all the way from producer to consumer. Consumers’’ interests would be as fully protected and better supplied under adequate pro-ducer-consumer co-operation.

Protests against this attempt at State control of a co-operatively controlled Organisation were pouring in from branches throughout the Auckland Province. Farmers everywhere seemed to view in this the thin edge of the wedge of agricultural . nationalisation, and a complete abrogation of democratic rights. The Auckland Federation wish to assure both producers and consumers that the position is being watched with the greatest care and if at all possible there would not be resort to extreme measures. At the same time, the situation was a critical one and if the gauntlet remained flung at the feet of the Town Milk Producer, then that fact must be recognised and handled accordingly.