BUTTER CONTROL

Hokitika Guardian, 19 May 1927, Page 2

BUTTER CONTROL

[IIY TELI'Cn.M’Il — rr.n piuiss association

PAHIATUA. May IP. There was an exceptionally large at tendance til farmers at Pahiatua tilt afternoon to bear tile address on daii;

control by the Chairman of the Board, Air Grounds. 'J lie Mayor, Air C rewe presided. Air Ground’s visit to tlii: district was at the instigation of tin local dairymen.

The address was largely in the nature of a, reply to the criticisms-levelled at the Board by Alessrs .1. B. AfacEwan and A. D. Cased berg at a meeting hero. Air Grounds said that the continued propaganda, organised by the opponents of the trade, and supported by n. section of the Press, bad produced a feeling with the public concerning the stabiluity and future of the industry which was not true. It militated against the industry. He denounced those promoting this propaganda. The speaker dealt effectively at gie.it with the allegations made against the Board. He emphasised that last season had been an unfortunate one for an undertaking as that, which was committed to the Hairy Ivinrd’s care, owing to the economic position they found at Home. Air Grounds stated the alleged antagonism, of the British consumers to control was mythical.

The meeting was one of a. very lively nature. There were numerous

interjections. Many questions were answered by Mr Grounds.

A motion was proposed by Mr .T. G. Brechin (Pahiatua) and seconded byMr E. T. Hale (Hoplands) as follows: “That this meeting, having heard MiGrounds, affirms its strong conviction that the marketing policy of the Dairy Board, as originally laid down, was sound and capable, giving a great benefit to the industry if properly applied, this meeting strongly resents the combined commercial and political warfare waged against the Board, which has prevented the scheme operating to give the fullest benefit to the farmers It reaffirms its belief in the principle of national co operative marketing, and urges that any reconiideration of the Act to alter the name should include revising the constitution, so as to make the DairyBoard purely a farmer Board.” A.n amendment was moved hy- Mr Davis (Hamini) and seconded by AllBell (Hirealm) as follows: —“That in the opinion of the meeting it is in the interests of the dairy industry- that the compulsory clauses of the Dairy Control Act be repealed as soon as possible; that the dairy factories he permitted to dispose of their produce in any manner they deem most desrable in their own interests.” The amendment was lost on the voices. The motion was carried. In the course of his speech Mr Grounds announced that at the end ol this week the final payment on the first butter pool, amounting to £7600, would be available to the factories. An assurance was also given that there would be no victimatisation of any sort or kind from the factories by the Board. On the contrary, there would he definite further payments in respect of both butter and cheese. Mr Grounds also said that, despite a carry-over of 20,000 tons hy the factories from last season, and also despite the protracted British coal strike) the extra production throughout the dairy season had been so great that the actual cash income of the dairying community will probably exceed the cash income of last year, although, owing to t.he then methods of sale and lack of exact returns, a definite comparison cannot- be made. He estimated dairv income of over 18 million pounds sterling. This was subject to deductions approximating 10 per cent without counting upon improved prices, of which there was every reasonable likelihood. He offered this estimate as a valuable corrective to ally undue pessimism concerning the industry.