IN FIGHTING MOOD

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 231, 24 June 1920, Page 8

IN FIGHTING MOOD

PRODUCERS AND IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT MARKETING OF PRODUCE PROTEST AGAINST DISCRIMINATION. By TelecraDh—Sneclal Reporter, Palmerston North, June 23. In no uncertain voice the delegates attending the _ annual conference of the National Dairy Association hero to-dey indicated that • they were up in arms against continuance of tho restrictions on tho 6ale of New Zealand dairy prodUCO. ;

', Mr. Buchanan (Thames Valley) proposed the Mowing motion: "That this ■ meeting of the whole of the dairy, producers of New Zealand resents the attitude taken up by the British Ministry of Food in placing restrictions on the importation and. sale of.New , Zealand dairy produce, while British aiid Irish producers are enjoying a. free, market, and as British producers we demand equal treatment with, producers the world over, and absolutely refuse to discuss a sale to tho British Food Ministry since rationing- of English and Irish butler has ceased."

In seconding the motion, Mr. M'Farkno CRiverbank) said all were agreed that the time had arrived when equal treatment to that of other parts of the Empire should I>e meted out to the producers of New Zealand.

Mr. W. D. Powdrcll said that the farmers' delegates on tho Butter Comihitteo had not'taken anything "lying down." It was no uso absolutely refusing; to discuss t)ie matter of sales with the lipperia'. Government. Thp Imperial' Government was "on the ton box/" and until shipping was decontrolled the producers of New Zealand would not bn in a position to dictate to tho Home Government. If theiatter did make a reasonable offer, it was for the producers to consider it ns reasonable men. It behoved thorn to'be 'hard and firm, but not to close the door to all negotiations. (Hear, hear.) "Highly Impolitic." Mr. Man (Mangatoki) also deprecated a hostile attitude as boing highly impolitic. Ho moved an amendment to strike out that portion of the resolution "absolutely refusing" to deal with the Imperial Government. The Hon. J. B. Gow stated that to perpetuate discrimination that had hitherto existed in regard to our produce would bo the rankest injustice. ■ Mr. Buchanan emphasised that if the contract with the. Imperial Government was renewed restrictions would bo placed on the sale of New Zealand butter to Canada-and other markets. In this way valuable connections would be lost by the New Zealand producers. He would accopt the amendment and delete tho words objected to from his motion.' Auckland's Uncompromising Stand. Mr. Goodfellow (Waikato) said that, while supporting tie motion as amended, tho Auckland farmers wished their laranaki friends to understand thnt they had no intention whatever of negotiating any sale-with the Imperial Government. They had disemfred the point rally, and wore determined to press for a free market.

Mr. Boyd (Waikato) said that tho timo for fine words had passed. Temporising with the Imperial Government would only, result in their again being' taken advantage of. . I The resolution was oarried unanimously, and the executive was directed to forward copies of it to the Prime Minister, the association's Loudon representative (Mr. Brash), and to the Australian delegates at present negotiating a sale with the Imperial Government.

' Equal Shipping Space Demanded. On the motion of Mr. Powdrell, the meeting a'.so nffirmed: "That the association be instructed to insist on equal shipment of their season's cheese and butter with tho Imperial Government's old meat, cheese and butter yet to be shipped from this country; and that tho association be instructed to insist on equal space in shipment of the new season s produco with the Government's stocks of meat, butter and cheese now on hand in New Zealand stores."