DAIRY CONTROL

Hokitika Guardian, 18 September 1926, Page 1

DAIRY CONTROL

EXCEPTION TO CRITICISM,. AUCKLAND, Sept. 15

Exception to remarks made on Monday by Sir James Allen in regard to the policy of the, Dairy Control Board was taken by the Auckland provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union.

Mr It. D. Duxficld said that Sir James Allen had remarked that the hoard vfas trying to fix prices for New Zealand dairy produce, and lie thought tho executive should express dissent with tho remark. One could appreciate that Sir James had been associated in England with opponents of control. His remarks might do a great deal of harm to the board' in the early stages of its work. Mr C. C. Munro. chairman of the executive, said that Sir James might kn ow all about the measure from the Home point of view, hut he had been in New Zealand only a few days and be did not know the feeling of the Dominion on the subject.

“Sir James Allen made a very wise observation,” said Mr W. Lee Martin. “He was giving a word of warning. Everyone knew that one of the ideas of tho control movement was to obtain a certain price for produce. The present position of tlio market had been brought about by some of the factories seeking to emulate in advance tho board’s policy of withholding supplies from the market. Their action had cost farmers nearly £1 a ton on their butter. "Mr Munro said it was regrettable that so many public men in New Zealand should eulogise tho Meat Board and attack the Dairy Board. What was tho position of tho meat industry to-day? The Meat Board was not tackling the position, but tho Dairy Board was going ahead in an endeavour to find a solution to tho problems besetting the industry. The Meat Board had no policy, it was merely shilly filially. All the comment against the Dairy Board in his opinion mas i merely propaganda. Tho executive then passed a resolution noting with regret that Fir James Allen was reported to have suggested that the Dairy Control Board proposed to fix prices for dairy produce, and calling his ,attention to the fact that there was no truth in the suggestion. Any such action would be opposed by the farmers of Now Zealand, apart from the fact that price fixing for dairy produce was commercially impossible. The policy of the board, as understood liy farmers .was designed to eliminate speculation and unnecessary charges.