PRESS COMMENTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 July 1928, Page 4

PRESS COMMENTS.

It should be pleasing to our dairy farmers to learn that New Zealand butter is now sold in tens of thousands of shops, hut its exports to Britain are not increasing sufficiently. In cheese, the Dominion has almost a monopoly, and can therefore exploit the cheese market at Home with the utmost confidence. News like this should certainly stimulate the producers to increase their output to full capacity, always remembering that the highest quality must he maintained, “Taranaki Newis.”

If union is strength, would not one board, representing dairy farmers and meat producers, be in a position still stronger than that of either? Even if it could do for the two sections only just as much as the separate boards do now, it could certainly do it more cheaply. Amalgamation ought to make possible the raising of a smaller levy on produce. > The amounts these bodies collect in the aggregate are far from small. l Each lias in reserve considerable sums of money levied from the producers, each has to pay overhead expenses of some magnitude. II there is any possibility of the farmer’s interests being watched efficiently at a smaller cost than that now entailed by the hoards, it should lo explored fully. The outlook lor tie producer is better than it has been, hut not so good as to make economy unnecessary. A reduction in the number of control boards suggcsl; it v el! as an obvious avenue. A beginni! f could well lie made with the Meat and Dairy Boards.—“ New Zealand Herald.” New Zealand butter has been popularised with consumers at Home, with the result that it stands at the top of the official quotations, heading the hitherto invincible Danish butter, anil

really standing in a class by itself. The Dairy Produce Board may, wo confidently believe, be relied upon not to do anything to cause ,a disturbance of the present happy position, hut will rather seek to confirm it and give to it wie desirable element of stability. It is not improbable that the board will revise its policy in the direction of simplification of machinery and cost, and so reduce its financial needs that a smaller demand upon producers will become necessary. Vo are quite satisfied that such a reform is feasible without in any degree lessening the service it renders to producers or affecting in the slightest measure the welfare of a great national industry.—Oamaru “Mail.”

I here is a greater necessity than ever for a substantial reduction in the rate of taxation, and it is to be hoped that the Government and Parliament soon will devise means of essential relief from a chafing burden. They appear to be callously indifferent at no moment. It is reported by onservers of the extravagant foolishness at Wellington, that although members themselves are sick ami tired of the Addrcss-in-Beply debate, the stupid waste of time and public money will meander on like a sluggish creek. If tlie sense of duty he dull, shame ought to drive legislators to useful work.— Auckland “Sun.”

Summer time lias I operated with complete success iii England and European countries.' Its initial trial in New Zealand was greeted by thousands as a beneficial movement, as resolutions passed in all parts of. the Dominion have shown, and it is more than likely that those who stubbornly refuse to see tlie advantages of an extra hour of sunlight each working day will, if the measure be re-enacted, see the error of their ways. Mr T. K. Sidey, father of daylight saving in New Zealand, is retiring from politics this year. It will he a pleasant tribute to bis 27 years of service if lie is able to witness the approval of his new Bill before relinquishing his seat in the House of Representatives.—Auckland “ Sun.”

The extporionco of file Australian and New Zealand community with rennect to cable rates at a time when the service to these dominions was a monopoly hardly encourages the belief that the establishment of a fresh monopoly, very much more powerful than that which the Pacific Cable Company was formed to combat, will make for the maintenance of rates at the lowest level compatible with efficiency. This is an aspect of the whole matter to which the Governments of the dominions must give their earnest attention before they acquiesce uniesorvedly in the recommendations of the conference.— “Otago Daily Times.