MR. HALE SEES SOMETHING ACHIEVED.

Chronicle (Levin), 18 April 1947, Page 7

MR. HALE SEES SOMETHING ACHIEVED.

-Press Association

Bv T&earaviL-

. WELLINGTON, April 17. " Whiie the settiug up of the Dairy Commission may not be what nian\ dairy fahners expected as the inimediate settlcnient of the present issue and disappoihtments ofVthe last six months, it does represent, in niy opinion, an attempt to reach a long term solution of the industry 's outatanding problenis on price lixatiori and marketing," said Mr. \V. E. Hale, cliairman. of the New Zealand Dairy Board, wh.en commcnting tonight on the establishment of the Commission. "The eft'ect of the revocation of the modilication order of the second schedule of the factories Act recently, was to cxtend the Government 's -10 hour week policy so deeply into th farming industry that an adjustment o1 • tlie existing relationships between dairy farm workers and industry generally becanic imperative. This wa: pointed out in niv lettcr of January .ti to the Prime Minister, and during th( past two months industry representa tives liave been cngaged in seeking a solution which would include an ad , ;justnient for the present season, on the basis of the Government 's 40-hour week policy and also to include somo con sideration of the industry 's proposal for a marketing policy. "I consider we have now olitained something for the dairy industry which ' will be of considcrable value to the industry and also to tlu future economie welfare of this Dominion. I quite apprcciate it will bc diilicult for the average dairy i'a.rmer imniediately to roalise this hui it will be iny duty as cliairman of the New Zealand Dairy Board to attend all Dairy Board ward confcrences which will be held in the near future commencing on April 28 ut Whangarei and fniishing at Invercargill on May 10. Al those conferences I will endeavour to explain to the best of niy ability the reasons whv tlie. Dairy Fndustry Conterence, sitting in Wellington these last two datys, has today approved of the setting up of ' the Dairy Commission. In inv opinion, and I think in the opinion of all delegates wlio attcndcd that conference,,. aftbr being addressed by the Prime Minister and Minister of Marketing, this Commission representsa genuinc clTort on tlie part of tlie Government to achieve full cooperation with the industry and to removc the affairs of the industry from poli'tical control. ,"The immediate concern of dairy farmers over the question of tlie adjustment Qf the present season 's price lias been covcred by tlie Prime Minister 's statement to the conference and in letters w,hieh have passed between the Prime Minister and myself. These specifically provide that the Commission will be given legislative authorit.v to consider a readlust.ment of the present season 's prices after taking into full consideration the effeet of the extension of the Government 's 40-houi I week policy,"