DAIRY CONTROL

Hokitika Guardian, 19 March 1925, Page 1

DAIRY CONTROL

the .MINISTER’S REPLY. [BY TELEGRAPH —TER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Alareli IS. The Hon A. I). AlcLeod said lie had noted that lie was lreing taken to task by the Executive of the Association o. Chambers of Commerce in regard to his remarks in an address at Geraldine. “Just before beginning my address at Geraldine,” said Air Alel.ood, “1 had handed to me a circular issued by the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, which, among other tilings, contained the following:—“The world has had an extraordinary example oi the disastrous failure of this class of Socialisticlegislation in Russia. It seems obvious that no responsible Labour Government would to-day repeat this, but the extreme Socialist Party will welcome such an O'dei'-in-UouiHil from the Retorm Government as substantial contributions to a future Communistic regime.” After reading this to the meeting, I went on to say that I did not believe that such a view was subscribed to by five per cent, of the commercial men of New Zealand, and that if it: was, then all J could say was that I felt sorry for them. A.s a settler on the land I knew full well the valued services re do reel to the primary producers by the commercial man in the past history of the Dominion. But such statements as tm.it just read would if generally subscribed to by commercial men, bring about Bolshevism more quickly than anything I know.”

CHAAIBER OF COAIAIERCK CRITICISAI. WELLINGTON, Alareli 18. The Wellington Chamber of Commerce discussed the dairy control position. and adopted the following statemen to-day : “The A\"ollingon Chamber of Commerce learns with considerable anxiety that the Dairy Con In 1 Board is under no necessity to the Governenmt for authority to exercise full control over the dairy produce of this country, thus finally removing, in one stroke, all safeguards. Though the Bill was before the House, this Chamber, while commending all efforts at the improvement of the quality of Dominion products and marketing conditions, calls upon the Dairy Control Board not to wantonly disregard the voice of commerce. This Chamber dissociates itself entirely from expressing the views of directly interested persons, but seeks to protect the fabric of commercial and mercantile activities, which makes production, transport, and distribution possible, and which, in turn makes the market what it is. It i.s of opinion that the Dairy Control Board is not fully “seibod” of the possibilities and danger abend, and that, in rushing beyond the limited control judiciously, adopted in the case of the Meat Board, it exposes the industry to the hostility of those interests which are in a. position to do this country incalculable liarni, by supporting, through finance and patronage, our principal competitors in the trade. This Chamber calls upon the Dairy Control Board to hesitate before launching out in unknown waters and to give due study to the economic factors which have made the daily and all other industries what they are to-day.”