CORRESPONDENCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 May 1925, Page 1

CORRESPONDENCE.

DAIRY PRODUCE CONTROL. (To The Editor.) Sir.— In the days of old, from that old town of Portsmouth standing on the wave worn shores of old England, sailed, as we all know, the real founders of that great country the United States of America. Determined to endure no longer the injustice and oppression of those in power, that hardy hand of pioneers embarked on their perilous venture, strung to fortitude and endurance by the knowledge ol tho injustice and righteousness of their claim to worship God in their own way. Heedless of sunshine or storm, the time Hies on, years and generations fade away into the past, and once again a band of men stirred by tlie same feelings, believing in the justice and righteousness of their claim to retain in their own hands the disposal ot the limits of their toil, meet in the New Plymouth standing on the siirt t ringed shores of the Britain of the Southern Setts, and embark on another phase ol the never ending fight oi right against wrong—justice against injustice. i hatties new venture will meet with scorn and ridicule, and feigned contempt, is quite certain. I say feigned contempt, been Use underneath this stirlaee explosion of opposition ii*oin interested and misled parties, there lurks in the heat I of everv man of our race that instinct of liberty, justice and fairplay, which centuries of breeding on these lines has placed there. Events of recent years have triumphantly proved that this inborn instinct is yet viriic and potent. and can assert itself when stern facts show through the blinding clouds of specious platitudes ami plausible

generalities. It is equally as certain that the new venture will triumph, lie the struggle short and sharp, or long and wenrv. Conviction and nor expediency is another of its foundation stores, and when men are convinced they are apt to be determined. The fact that the fund' of the Control Board will be freely used to crush opposition will stir the determination to succeed. Producers arc well aware that mi eve rv ton ol cheese they produce the Control Board collects a levy of os Kill, and double ibis amount on every ton of butter, and that moreover the levy is compulsory and must be paid whether they approve or not. tacts like this cause thought, and thought produces action, and action founded on a souse of injustice only needs a loader to lierini'e a vital ioroc.

Mr Marx at Mangatoki raised the standard. Now Plymouth adopted the (lag and decided to carry it into action. The New Zealand Dairy Producers’ Free Marketing Teague is now an established institution, and factories and producers have it rallying centre. Where supporters are in a minority or are unable to move to action apathetic* directors there is no need for individual producers to curse Hie fate that renders them passive supporters of tho policy they detest. Each supplier can easily ascertain his own personal share of the levy bis factory is compelled to pay the Control Board, and for every shilling so paid let him put aside one pomiv as his contribution to the League. There needs he no (ear ot the amount being inadequate. Each penny on tin' side of right and justice bandied by men whose contentions and opinions oi tlie probity and ability oi Toolev Street merchants have proved to he correct (and which time, events, and ti." finding of the Control Board’s delegation have substantiated) is ol inure value titan a shilling mi the side ol vague statements that things ought to tic, or will lie, so and so. and handled hv men whose advocacy ol the example of the Danes controlling the market by a centralised controlling body has been explod'd by the revelation that Danish produce is marketed by a number of bodies all purely voluntary, and whose estimate of Tnoloy Street merchants, placing them in practically the same category as rogues, has now been replaced by statements such as " an English merchant's word is his bond and

•• |o ask a British merchant for a written guarantee would lie si till tly his lion

There is mi need to sit ami growl under the burden of unjust interference with personal rights, when hard work and perseverance will remove the trouble. Tlie Coni ml Hoard is conscious nf the vitality of our action, two of its members living present at the New Plymouth meeting. If hall the rumours current have Inundation, the same two gentlemen would find amide food Ini' mental exercise in hearing the straight and manly explanation oi Mr Marx in answer to a question ol) his i linage of al til tide.

!•'iii:>]ly. sir, allow mo to state tlmt having accepted (lie position of lion secretary nf tin* League. I iiiii as far as possible at tlif service of my follow producers in this movement in delettee of our rights. Yours truly. 0. f; MIRON. 11 alio! u, Taraiiaki.