WELLINGTON NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 23 April 1926, Page 3

WELLINGTON NEWS

J THE DAIRY CONFERENCE. (Special to “ Guardian.”) WELLINGTON, April 21. An important conference of the representatives of the Dairy Industry is to be bold in Wellington an April 28tli, when tbe question in respect to the ward system of voting for members of tho Dairy Control Board is to he considered. Rather more than usual interest is being taken in this meeting, because of the change-of front shown by the Chairman of the Board. Originally, the Chairman sent out a circular stating that the conference would dceido for itself the basis of the voting at the Conference, hut subsequently in a second circular it was laid down that tho Dairy Companies were to have one vote for every 100 tons of butter up to 500 tons, and one additional vote for every additional 150 tons of butter or portion thereof. Two tons of cheese to be taken as equal to one ton of butter. This system of voting, which is entirely undemocratic is much resented and will give rise to some very ]'ilain speaking on the part of the delegates. Most people interested in the matter favour the Parliamentary system of voting, that is one producer, one vote, and the unfairness of the system proposed may he realised from the fact that the North Island with 34,043 producers, will carry 957 votes, whereas tho .South Island with 20.545 producers, will get only 305 votes. This means that every 30 suppliers in the North Island will have one vote at the Conference, whereas in the South fsand one vote is spread over 07 producers. Nine of the largest com. panics will by this system get 201 votes, although they represent only 17 per cent of the dairy farmers. The largest company is tho Good fellow Coy. in the Waikato, and this concern alone will exercise 185 votes, and yet the Coy. represents only 12 per cciit of the dairy farmers of New Zealand.

This method of conducting a conference cannot he reconciled with the democratic principle of one producer, one vote. The single l , ward system of electing the Control Board is well known to dairy farmers. They will vole individually for their own district representatives on the Board in the same way as they vote for their menu her for Parliament, and it. is sale to say that, more than 99 per cent of them are certainly in favour this system of election. But from whence does the Board derive its authority to fix the method of voting at the Conference In tho meanwhile people are wondering where the Government stands at the present time. The Prime Minister stated to the. deputation of business men who waited on him that he was obtaining from the Board details as to the policy of control, and since then we have heard nothing. The whole thing is farcical, but is likely to have serious consequences. WOOL STATISTICS. The Wellington Woolhrokers’ Association have made an official compilation of the statistics relating to the sales of the season. There were in all 5

sides held in Wellington, and the total quantity offered was 107,156 hales, as compared with H 0.507 hales in the season 1921-25. there was thus a eontraction in the quantity offered of 3351. hut the quantity sold was larger by 1151 bales, tbe totals being 199,791 bales, against 9(1,553 hales, When the average prices per pound are compared tile season just ended makes-a poor showing. Thus at the. November sale the average price obtained for greasy wool was 1.3,372(1 which happened to he the best price of the season. At the corresponding sale the previous season the average price was 23.31.3 dso that there was a dec-lino of very nearly Hid per lb. At the December sale the average was 11.737 d against 21.139 d a drop of nearly 9:Jd. At. the January sale this year the realisation was 11,7« Ge1. or a shade inure than at the previous sale,

or <)UI less than in January, 1935, when the average price was 2UJ94d. In February the price was 11.n.0d. against 17.L07d, a decline of 51 per pound, and at tho sale last month tho average was 11.72H1, and in March last- year tho average was 14.618(1. or a decline ot a little over 3d per lb. The highest price obtained this season was more than a penny per pound less than the lowest average price it the season 1924-25. The average price per pound for the season 1925-26' Works out at 12.036 d, while in the previous season the average was 19.626(1, there was thus a fall of 7.1-5 d per lb. The gross value of the 100.794 hales of wool sold in Wolington during the season was £1.798.092 7s 2(1, and as growers know they received their cheques for wool sold a fortnight after the sale. The whole amount realised has been reccii-

cd and spent, and there is no waiting expectantly on market prospects. The wool market of New Zealand may not he perfection lint it is certainly one of the best ordered of our produce markets.