WELLINGTON NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 November 1924, Page 4

WELLINGTON NOTES.

CONTROL 01’ DAI ItV INDFSTRY. (Special to “Guardian”.) * fiVKLLINGTOX, November 21. 1 It v nil Order-in-Council issued lust .Monday evening export of butter and cheese from Xew Zealand is prohibited except in accordance with a license to be issued by the .Minister of Agricill111re and so a great industry comes definitely under political control. There has been no demur and no protest. Junes in New /ealand cannot, sell his billter or cheese to Robinson in London except by kiln! permission of the lion \V. Xusworthv, Minister of Agriculture. One might well ask what the dairying industry had done or lott undone, to become the plaything of the politician. The dairy industry is younger than the meal l rooting industry. but it has in recent years made more rapid strides than the meat freezing industry, because it appealed to a greater number and if the Work was more arduous, the small man was al least able to make a living at it. In the (last twenty-live years the dairy industry has grown from practically nothing to the most important item in our export schedule. The dairying industry is worth C 10.000.000 to the country and is has been developed up to that point without any political control. Its dovelopincnt has keen due largely to the Toole.v Street merchants for it is they who have insisted upon quality, and it is the quality that has helped the industry. Prior in the war Ills per. cwL was a good price lor Xew Zealand butter, to-day the price is •jobs, and both prices have been paid hv the Toolev street merchants. Business people here unconnected with the industry are wondering why control has been deemed necessary. 11a* reason given for prohibiting export except under license is that the Dairy Control Hoard has determined that it, is necessary for dec live operation of the Act. and the fulltilinent of its purpuses. that, the hoard should exercise a limited control over the export of butter and cheese. The expression ‘•limited c.mrol” is rather delirious. It is the Minister who issues the li-

lense. Xmv let us advance the scene to say 1 !kili or 1027 and picture Mr Holland as Prime Minister and Mr I’arrv as Minister of Agrietulture. the avowed policy of Labour is to control our menus ol production, distribution and exchange, and so tar as several of our imlustiios are concerned, including the dairy industry, they will have the control problems well in hand. business people in Wellington look upon these control hoards us providing fat-salary jobs for a great many men who could not in other occupations have earned the same money. Of course it is realised that the control hoards cannot help doing some

good, hut their existence introduces a new and vicious system, of political interference with trade and industry. It is limited control to-day. to-morrow it will be unlimited control. FREEZING COM I’AX I IS’ DIEEIC CITIES. The position of the freezing companies at the moment is rather a diilicult one. The prices for mutton ami lamb in the London market are very high, so much so, that there are complaints in the consuming centres. It is contended locally that the high prices are due to shortage of supplies, which, of course, is a temporary matter. When supplies expand prices will drop. I* armors who have lat stock lor sale at the moment naturally want Loudon parity, but those who have to take the risks cannot see I heir way to pay such prices. They contend, and rightly so, that it is impossible to predict the position eight or nine weeks hence and it will take till that before sheep and lambs UoW on the bool can he marketed ill Ktnilhlicld. The probability is that values will drop, they certainly cannot go higher, ami is that tact that is hanging up operations. I hen* are eo inquil b • l"f <.• 1 . hu ;M "I where lat sto. k t- sold, the sale is by

, 1,,... iuthm hot ween l lif parlies. ; i nil mU in tier)trt ln imv with M'hediih' or tillin’ rates. Tile livo'.ing eoni|.ii tries will have a very trying little this vear, lor it is |n<>!>a 1 •!«* tltiil I here will 1«; i full in values ill’ itll protltu ts handled hy them except perhaps wool. Australia prmiiises to ho itti important exporter of meal this season, heeattso the elimatie eotnlilions in the Coliimollwealtli have heen very I'avotirahle. WOOLLEN wool. PACKS. |!t ailfitil manufacturers are very stronoly in favour of woollen wool packs hoi tie substituted for the present ittle packs. The objection to Ihe hitler is that loose pieces ol jute get mixed with the wool and cannot he detected until the fabric is to he dyed, .lute will not take dye, and has therefore, to lie eradicated front the weave hv a special process, .Manufacturers suffer a good deal front this, and the suggestion has been made that a pack made wholly of wool should he used. A suitable pack to hold obtllbs of wool instead of the jute pack holding XU libs of wool, has heen suggested and this new pack is being examined by a Committee composed ol live reprcsenla j lives of the trade and six representatives of the producers. Already there is objection, lor .Mr 11. 11. nonaid, matinging director ol Messrs Donald and Sous Ltd., W air.ora pa, stales that the savin;; in freight claimed would only nlfeet overseas freight, and not inland freight, which often ninoiinled to considerably more. Mr Donald is ol opinion thali if the propositi is adapted it would mean the scrapping in Australia and New Zealand of approximately lilt,<loo presses valued at L'", 110,0(10. The scrapping of old machinery. which is all that is involved, is to be commended and the rights of those nianiil'acluring wool-presses cannot he considered.