DAIRY CONTROL BOARD

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 54, 27 November 1926, Page 9

DAIRY CONTROL BOARD

Sir,—ln your issue of November 25 there appeared some remarks—made at a conference—by Mr... A. H. Mackrell, president of the New Zealand Chambers of Commerce Association, referring to the policy of the Dairy Control Board which ousrht not to pass In the first place his analogy is unworthy of the responsible position he occupies. He likens the board “to an infant born in our midst this year.” Surely the proper attitude of anyone possessing ordinary business ability would be, before sitting in judgment, to allow the infant to grow up and if, in the course of development, it did not progress along the path of virtue, justice, and right, then fire away. No man, with a spark of manhood within him. would stoop to attack an infant. . In enlarging upon the analogy, he descends to the same type of criticism that 'was hurled at the producers when, 30 years or more ago they began to apply the principle; of co-operation to the manufacturer of butter and cheese. Ultimate disaster was . the uni versa! opinion of gentlemen in the /position of Mr. Mackrell. To-dav the industry is a monument to the foresight, wisdom, enterprise, and determination of such men, who are now placarded as ‘‘infants born this year.” Notwithstanding the difficulties ahead., they went their wav, irrespective of the environment of incredulity and opposition, and made the business a ’ huge arid profitable success. Is it likely they now seek to. destroy, what has ” already been achieved at great financial cost, and the expenditure of much valuable time and untiring energy? Take another statement of the president’s- “If New Zealand succeeds in controlling the price of. foodstuffs sent, to Britain other countries would do likewise.” It is a safe axiom in life if you want to teach others first understand your subject in all details, then talk. Surely Mr. Mackrell was not conversant with his facts and did not comprehend what he was talking about. Denmark exports annually United Kingdom twice the quantity-of hotter that New Zealand does and the Danes themselves fix the wholesale price from week to week; and have done so for the last 40 years nearly. Now, may T submit to Mr. Mackrell these questions: . 1. Was he aware, when speaking, or the fact, that the Danes get their own value for butter without complaint from the British agent or consumer? 2. Did he know that prices for New Zealand dairy produce in London were fixed from week to week lone before the New Zealand Dairy Control Board came into existence? . , 3. Can he produce any reliable evi-r dence which will prove that the Control Board, in the fixation of weekly prices will exceed the then reasonable market value? .. t Does he know authoritatively whether the Dominion dairy farmers exnect to vet more than market price for their, produce? , , „ Pirnnose. for arguments sake, the Control Board did fix a price for onr dairy nroduce anart from the., principle of snpnlv and demand, would snob action bn . any different than that followed, by the manufacturers in the United Kingdom when we in the Dominion buy their, goods? ; We are part of the British Empire-, and have ( to purchase .their .mannfac-r; fared goods., and are willing tn do so, but von cannot buy the products in. the - onen niarket. If if be machinery, hardware. drn-'orv, eoftou goods anvfhihgand everything renlli r »d. von have to nay his fixed- price. 'Rnfber hard is. it hot wlm-> vou ronsulnr I’m- nn" ll n.mn ■ has to sell the bulk of its exnorlable -'redacts in the open market. Derhans this mav he the action of “infants who know.-T am. etc., „ fxpOBTEB «