DAIRY CONTROL.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 March 1925, Page 3

DAIRY CONTROL.

‘ FIRST STEP TOWARDS COM -M U.XISM.” CHRISTCHURCH. .March 3 "That this Chamber views with grave alarm the attempt to influence the Government to drastically alter the ordinary conditions of trading in dairy produce by ()rdor-in-('ouucil, which will prohohlv result in disaster to the Dominion, and instructs its Exporting Committee to forward to the Government reasoned arguments against the proposals in question, and to take such steps as shall obtain an expression of informed public opinion on the subject.” Such was a 'resolution, dealing with the question of dairy control, passed unanimously by the Council of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce last evening. Introducing the subject, Mr C. i’. Agar (general manager of the Tai Tapii Dairy Company) said that the Chamber should request the Associated Chambers to take action regarding the proposed Order-in-Council giving the Dairy Control Board control of the export of dairy produce. This wa., not a d nicstic matter when it was considered that the exports brought in LTH,000,000 a year to the country. Tile industry had thought that the idea was to follow on the lines of the Meat Control Board. It was appalling to think that the Government should issue an Order-in-Council of such a nature, which vitally concerned everybody interested in the prosperity of the Dominion. The control would mean an era of non-prosperity to the dairy farmers of New Zealand. The Chamber should act. and endeavour to forestall it in the interests of the conite.iinity as it whole and the dairy farmers particularly.

The president (Mr W. Machin) said that it appeared as if a group of people interested in Communistic ideas were trving to obtain the powcrlul aid of the .State in usurping the rights ol others. Disaster had come M such short cuts. It was D’e Chamber's duty to warn the prime movers ns to the result of such a course. 3 hose people would not stop at butter and cheese, but would go on to all dairy produce. It was a tug-of-war between the producer and- the consumer. All business men would recognise that such artificial alterations would mean disaster.

M.r 11. A. C. Taylor said that if that scheme had any success it would go on eventually to meat, apples and wool.

Mr C. Hewlett: This is the first step towards Communism, it’s a very serious thing.

Mr W. 11. Nicholson said that when it came to disposing ol the prodttef they would come tip against a brick wall, lie suggested sending a telegram to the Minister immediately.

II was suggested that the Exporters' ('onimitttee oald take the mat.ct in hand at mice.

Mr Agar said it would affect the general trading industry. Ihe -Boa id would get 7-") per cent of the supposed value of the produce, and the hanks would lie asked to look nine months ahead in advancing the value of the produce. The Dairy Control Board would retain a portion ol that advance. The dairy farmer would thus not he able to make both cods meet. Altei a year of the method not. only would the dairy factory feel it, hut everyone would fed the effect of the small advances, and the result would be a general depression ol trade.