SHARE IN MARKETING

Chronicle (Levin), 8 May 1946, Page 8

SHARE IN MARKETING

NO CO- OPERATION RECEIVED . FROM THE GOVERNMENT DAIRY INDUSTRY S MOTION The following resolution was passed at th'e Xew Zealand Dairy Board ward conference in Palmerston Nortli yesterday: — " That this conference deplores the delay of the Government in discussing with . the Dairy Board the industry 's marketing plan, and it- assures the Dairy Board of full support for its efforts in this direction, and suggests that the Government be asked to giVe an early decision. " "You will all agree that throughout the period when we have %ad the guaranteed price scheme in operation, wc have felt that we as an industry— and a very important industry that provides a large part of our sterling funds — should have some say in the marketing overseas of our butter- and cheese, " said Mr. A. Linton, acting-chairman of the. Xew Zealand Dairy Board in the eoursi of an address. "Xearly every year at our Dominion Conference, this question has been diseussed, and delegates by their speeches. have shown that they were dissatisfied to be cut off from marketing ako gether, " he said. "This dissatisfactioi-. culminated two years ago in a resolu tion from the conference instructing the Dairy Board and the Dairy Industry Couneil to bring down a comprehensive report on export marketing and develo; a scheme which would give the industn once more the right to market its ow.. produce." Continuing, Alr. Linton said that th. Board 's scheme had been unanimousl. adopted by the previous year's Domin ion Conference. As nothing further ha transpired and as they might think tha: Ihe Board had been remiss in not press ing their claims'to have it brought int-o l>eing, he wished to report exactlv whai had happened since the last conference "Tn their scheme they maintained first! v that while Xew Zeaiand opefrated unde conditions other than free exchange free marketing and free imports, the in dustrv in self-protection must have an

adequate price related to its costs. That, under existing conditions,. coubi be obtained only by a Btate guarantee and that in turn would make it neoes sary, if the industry regained control oi marketing, to accept ad.ditional Govern ment nominees on the Dairy Board. The other main points made we;v that there should be a minimum guarau feed price* for dairy produce and tha: adjustments to meet movements in cost^ should be made annually by a commit tee consisting of three represeijtative:ot' the industry, and three" representa tives of the Government, with a flupreme Court Judge as "chairman. They had indioated the machinery by vvhich the decisions would be carried •nto effect and outlined l.ow the sehein. [would operate, and finallv had asked that the industry shouhl have an active and deflnite partnership in any negotia. tions regarding Ihe sale of dairy produce the price of which had not then been arranged. Conference agreed after endorsing the proposals, that further negotiatious in connection with tlie marketing plan should be carried 011 by a committee it appointed. tlie personnel of which were ATessrs Hale, chairman of the Board, C. P. Agar, W. Alarsliall, W. AJulhollamt and AV. E. Fcott. The Board had aetivelv pushed the marketing plan ever since the last Dominion conference, "but he regretted to say that so far it had got nowliere. Alr. Linton then detailed many attempts that had been made to get a decision from the Government. The Dairy Board had done everything it possibly could to implement ihe Dominion conference decision but had been up against a brick wall. The Arinisters had made no attempt wliatever to meet them and had simplv slielved tlie question montli after nionth. "I11 view of its importance both to our industry and to the country as a whole," concluded Alr. Linton, "we feel we should have had better treatment from the Government. The in dustry will never l>e satisfied until it has once again assumed control of its own produce. We-liave Idought for ward a scheme which offers cooperation with the Government; we believe it is oue that will work satisfactorily, and we think that the Government has been unwise in not meeting us in connectiou with it. Alr. Xash has now left the country again, so it looks 'as if once again the matter will be shelved, and that unfortunately, though they will not say so in so many words, appears to be the actual policy of the Government in connection with it. "