DISASTROUS RESULT OF CONTROL

Hokitika Guardian, 12 March 1927, Page 4

DISASTROUS RESULT OF CONTROL

ALREADY VAST RECOVERY

WANGANUI. March 1).

Mr Veitch, M.P.. interviewed, regarding dairy control, said that the present position of the dairy industry was disastrous. It was no exaggeration to say that it is already past recovery for the present season, and that, fas the result of the Prime Minister s dread of taking responsible action in this important matter, a crushing blow has been struck at the dairying industry, which is now recognised to be our chief support. While other countries selliilg their butter to Britain have sold almost their entire output to date. New Zealand has only unloaded a very small proportion ot the'rear’s output; One authority states tint only 10 per.cent has been sold. This vproves with abundant clearness that the action of the Dairy Control Board in enforcing compulsion in New Zealand, and in trying to control the distribution of butter m Britain, is seriously resented by the trade at Home. To such *m extent is this case that they appear to be refusing to purchase New Zealand butter. The chief cause of the present disastrous position lies in tho tact that the Dairy Export Control Act gives the INtiry Control Board power to do all these things without reference to Parliament. A strenuous effort was made by Air Veitch and others to get the Dairy Control Act amended so that Parliament or the Government could control the hoard, if necessary, but Mr Coates lliving failed to give his party a lead in this direction, nothing was done, with the result that to-day dairy farmers are in a very bad plight. Mr Veitch wishes to draw public attention to several important facts relating to the Prime Minister in connection with this matter. He (the Premier) lias a party of some 54 members out of 80, and therefore must take complete responsibility for the present situation. When the matter was before larliamciit during Inst session Mr \ eitch appealed to him to give the House the benefit of information contained in all of the reports that the Government had received on the subject from the Banking Commission, and others, but Mi- Coates, for reasons best known to himself, kept the 'information secret, and amendments which would have saved the situation were lost by the combined vote of the Labour Porty and other compulsionists in the House. Unfortunately nothing can be done to compel the Dairy Control Board to alter its present disastrous policy until Parliament meets; on the other hand, if something is not done for the dsury industry in these conditions it is clearly the ‘duty of the Prime Minister to call Parliament together at once to «Yal with the matter. A, representative deputation waited upon the I rme > Minister a lew days ago, desiring to make reoreseutntions to linn on the matter, but for reasons best known to himself, the Prime Minister declined to meet them.