The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 1927. DAIRY PRODUCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 March 1927, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 1927. DAIRY PRODUCE.

likcknti.Y when reviewing matters which had come under his notice while in London, Mr M. Myers. K. 0.. ot Wellington, candidly criticised the control policy in the marketing of our dairy produce. The situation, he said, was “much more serious than we in New Zealand supposed it to he.” The large retail houses in the Old Country, he added, were opposed to the pricefixing methods adopted by the hoard. Mr Grounds, chairman of the Control Board replied, but did not refute the statements made by the Wellington critic It is evident that the -position is causing some concern, especially in the north. “Local merchants.” said an Auckland paper last week, “are exceedingly uneasy concerning the future from the point of view of the New Zealand producer.” t'nfortuiiatelv, the uneasiness felt will not he

I decreased by the statements made in f the fortnightly review of business oons ditions at Home, published in this is- | sue. “Uncertainty regarding New | Zealand price movements it is reported | “is causing buyers to pay more atten- | tion to Australian supplies”; “traders being unable to understand the New Zealand Control Board’s sudden lowering of the price by eight shillings.” These statements would seem to bear out the contention of Mr Myers and if there is one thing which, in the interests of the producers, we cannot afford to do, comments the Lyttelton Times, it is to antagonise the trade at

the selling end. One factor which has commanded attention in the north is the accumulation of stocks. It was reported that the total sales effected by the hoard for the fortnight ended Februarv 18th. were 40,000 boxes, whereas our blitter was said to be arriving at the rate of 60,000 boxes a week. The amount of butter in Loudon, afloat, and in store in the Dominion, has been sot down at over one million boxes—a Wellington paper estimates that that the quantity in store in London and shipments to arrive there before A fay 31st. will total over 1.347.000 boxes—and tfie task of the board is to dispose of this huge quantity before the supplies from northern countries flood the market. Under ordinary circumstances much of this butter would have been sold oil an f.o.b basis. The Australian system of control, which we have practically copied, permits of these transactions, and tho position t" day may result in the demand for similar powers being granted to our dairy I companies. At the commencement of J thy reason there was a heavy aceurnu-

lalinn of our dairy produce in London, and that fact was stressed as showing the need for a system of coiiirol. ll has si in t* transpired Unit possible the hulk of this butter had been sold and was not held on. account oi New Zealand factories, but it remains l'or the board (o dennuistiaie that, under this police it has adopted, the necnmulat im of our produce is not possible. Apparently it cannot be claimed yet tha! the- new system has obviated the fluctuations in prices which the producers were led to expect. A letter from see oral wholesale provision houses in Glasgow. recently published, stales thin

"in the short trial of the board's operations, prices have fluctuated to an extent seldom experienced under open trading.” Tin so firms stale that New Zealand products “have always been given •) prominent place on our lists and have been introduced by us into a vast number of retail shops,” and they have protested that "after the scheme had been inaugurated wo !ind our services ignored and that there is no adequate provision made to enable us to continue to handle New Zealand daily produce.” Here is further evidence in support of the warning uttered by Mr Myers, and as the welfare of the largest section of the farming community is dependent upon the. successful sale of onr dairy produce, those things must have attention. The seriousness of the position is not confined to the market ing end. Tin l dairy farmers have experienced difficult times of lute years, and they could not face any marked decline in payments lor their produce. The uneasiness which is said In prevail in Iho north constitutes Iho most effective criticism of the hoard's policy. ami any developments which would create a spirit of eonfidenee would he as welcome to the general public* as to the dairy farmers them- -<■ 1 VPS.