VIGOROUS PROTEST

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 21, 25 January 1934, Page 10

VIGOROUS PROTEST

DAIRY REGULATIONS

SOUTHLAND VIEWPOINT

MR* FdRBES SYMPATHETIC

(By Telegraph.) (Special to the "Evaninc Post."V INVERCARGILL, This Day. Vigorous objections to the application of the Dairy Board's new regulations concerning f.o.b. sales, anil the reduction .of the number of selling agents in Britain, were'heard by the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes) -when he mCt a deputation representing tho majority of dairy companies on the Southland western plains yesterday. Tho Primo Minister undertook to inform the Minister of Agriculturo (tho Hon. C. E. Macmillau), whose consent is necessary beforo the regulations aro applied, that the Southland companies were not yet convinced of the wisdom of the new regulations' and that they wished to place tho disadvantages of the new system before him. Representatives of the companies concerned asked that a Parliamentary Committee be set up next session to hear both sides1 of the case beforo the Minister consented to th© new , conditions." It was believed by tho companies represented that if the new regulations were applied, it would detrimentally affect the industry. Tho new regulations practically meant that control was again to be instituted, and it was predicted tlreie would' be disastrous results" to tho industry if this came about. The Primo Minister pointed out that the Minister of; Agriculture had stated he would require more information concerning the scheme before he gave his consent. The chairman of tho Dairy Board had recently visited Southland, and, judging by the receptions ho had been giv^n, it seemed he had convinced tho companies that the scheme was desirable. Hcnuo it was a surprise to him (Mr. Forbes) to find that objections remained. "REASONS NOT CLEAR.'» Mr. Forbes admitted that ho was not I clear as to the reasons for the changes desired by the board. He knew the 1 disastrous results which had attended I the board's previous scheme to fix prices, and he • believed New Zealand 1 should not do anything which would | jeopardise the good will which at present existed towards her in the butter ' industry in Britain. It was a very 1 difficult thing to try and bring about i a restriction of the number of agents, I foi- it was liable to cause resentment among thoso who wero excluded. In view of tho objections raised, he would approach the Minister of Agriculture on tho lines he had indicated.