The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27th, 1923. DAIRY CONTROL BOARD.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 December 1923, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27th, 1923. DAIRY CONTROL BOARD.

'J he dairy fanners tiave elected the mpmls'is of tho first Dairy Control Board in tile Dominion, and the event is of sufficient importance to warrant public attention. The dairying industry is possibly the most important in the Dominion. The Year Book shows that the export trade in dairy produce prow from £1,.‘»7(),00() in 1902 to £19,. dr 0.0.,0 in the year 1921-22. and anv legislation that may effect such a great volume of trade should engaL*e the closest attention of the people. The prolosal to establish a boaid of control came from tho 1101 th, and if.s most enthusiastic supporters lmve been the men who control the largo co-operative concerns in the Auckland province. Incidentally, it may bo noted that tho chairman of the directors, and the managing director of one such company have both been elected to the Board. I he main body of the opposition lias come from Taranaki, but the voting shows that the majority of dairy farmers favour the establishment of this body to contiol overseas operations, i’l obably many oi them view tfie scheme as an interesting experiment. To many people, however, the principle underlying the mcasuie is a cause for apprehension. The Act says that, the control to lx* exercised by the. Board over any daily produce may, as the Board determines, be absolute or limited. It was contended during the debate in Parliament that, under the Act. the Board of Control could not only market the 1 reduce, but also distribute, it. Naturally the companies that, through many years, have built up their own systems of distribution feel a little nervous, for while those- who promoted the legislation stated that they did not propose

to interfere with tii<- present channels of distribution, the fact remains that the Board i.s not bound by anv such promise and may exercise any and ail the powers wider red upon it by Parliament. It cannot bo dmied that the Board has hern Hi von far-reaching powers. It can 'prohibit the export from Now Zealand of any dairy produce'’, save in aceordame with a license issued subject to the conditions and lestrietions approved by the Board. In his defence of the Act a member n* the Cabinet stated that the farmers had a light to do as they pleased with their own produce, and no exception can he taken to that. But difficulty may lie experienced if the C'ontiol Board should ‘•assume control of any dairy produce'’, as provided for in the Act when that piodueo is tile property of a co-opera-tive company of farmcis. Cp till the piescnt the industry has heen based on llie principle that the producer* maid do \ hat they lilted with their own produce, but the <ruupulsory clauses of this Act would soon change all that. In ibis connection a very interest inti joint lias been inised, namely, whether any measure that would de- ] rive a pirnluecr of tin* power to dis-p-nso of Ids'produce as iio tin>tipilit best i.s strictly Coustitutiona!. It may so happen that the legal a-peet will he tc—ted. hut it i.s rniieli more likely that the new hitdv wiil foliow the example of the Meat Board and proceed warily, keeping its powers of compulsion well in the background. The Dairy Export Control Act will tiiwilly he judged on Jesuits. It will havc to show the dairy farmers actual cash bonciits. if it can do that it will live, hut if it fails, lin i. tin attempt to keep this great sr.l {'towing industry within inelastic bonds "ill -oon cease.