HIKUTAIA NEWS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4611, 8 October 1923, Page 4

HIKUTAIA NEWS.

MEETING. A meeting of milk suppliers was held in the Hikutaia Hall on Wednesday evening, when a fair audience assembled to listen to addresses delivered in favour of the Dairy Produce Export Control Act by Mr Macmillan, M.P. for Tauranga electorates and Captain Colbeck, of the Farmers’ Union. Wharepoa and Omahu settlers were present in force, the local suppliers being only fairly represented. Mr Buchanan, of Paeroa, who presided, introduced the speakers. Captain Colbeck quoted figures showing how the Home market was detrimentally affected by the irregu-* larity of shipments from the Dominion, the market thus being glutted at one time and depleted at another. In this way it was difficult to compare with the Danish produce which reached London regularly,, and in such quantities that a glut was avoided, whereas for three months out of the twelve N.Z. butter and cheese were not exported. Hence it was not easy to. make contracts at the most remunerative rates, the Home merchant preferring regular to irregular supplies, as the present time, owing to strikes, thirteen ships were chasing each other across the seas in order to obtain the butter and cheese output for this season. These ships could not reach Britain, much before Christmas, and thus the New New Zealand products could not be in London at a time when with a rising market the best prices could be realised. This meant considerable loss to the producers, and was a strong argument in favour of that cohesion, which only could, and would, be secured by the adoption of the Dairy products Sale Control Act, which required confirmation by the suppliers to enable the Control Board to function. Though New Zealand had nothing to learn from other countries about the manufacture of butter, which was sold in Britain under the name of “ Devonshire,” “ French Rolls,” and other fancy appellations, they had a great deal to learn about handling their produce at the other end, and in this way the Control Board could do a great deal, and the actions of the Board in this direction must conduce to the higher prices in which, naturally, the producers must benefit.

The Meat Control Board, though it had been in operation for little over a year, had been singularly successfulThe authoritative nature of this Board had already effected considerable reductions in frieghts, railway charges, refrigeration costs, insurances, and improvements in methods of handling and marketing meat. These savings went into the pockets of the producers while the quality was maintained and the value of New Zealand meat to the Ehglish consumers insisted upon by judicious advertising. The history of the Meat Control Board, would be repeated in the case of the Dairy Products Control Board, whereby reductions in freights, insurance rates, etc., would be assured, while by the elimination of the subagent or middleman, and the more economical handling of butter and cheese, tremendous savings would result. In fact, by the help of the meat pool decreases in certain charges had already been effected, but these were nothing in comparison with what would be obtained. The arguments of the opposition—and it consisted mainly of supporters of the proprietary s concerns—were bald, crude statements, based neither on logic nor on commonsense,,.. while their propaganda was conducted with opened pui’ses. As far as the speaker read, their objections were (1) usurpation by the Board of the functions of the individual and separate companies, thus lessening their control over their own products; (2) undue interference with the liberties and powers of the companies; and (3) that the substitution of a Control Board means the introduction of the thin edge of socialism. It was also argued that the Act was bad because it had received the support of the labour leader,, Mr H. Holland, M.P,

After lefuting these condemnatory statements Captain Colbeck displayed a draft showing the fluctuation of meat prices before the institution of the Meat Control Board, as well as the relatively stable line, which showed the stability of prices after control had been assumed. He was certain that the history of the meat pool would be repealed in the contemplated dairy produce pool by which prices would be stabilised and a glutted alternating, with a bare market obviated. The compulsory clauses had met with the greatest amount of opposition from their opponents. Like a friend of his, the speaker hated the word “compulsion,” but he hated “bankruptcy" still more. When it came to making a choice it was always well to adopt the lesser of the two evils, and thus be preferred the former to the latten. Compulsion was a good thing to have, for when one had it, it could be done without. The Act gave dairy farmers control over the sale, handling and marketing of their own products: for the first time, and it was a good thing to have, in conclusion he askjed his auditors to vote if not for. then against, the Act. Mr Macmillan, M.P., who followed stated that he had had a long experience of dairy farming and its products, and several decades had passed .since he made the discovery that .there was something seriously amiss in the handling of New Zealand butter and cheese at the other end. This, he thought, was an original discovery, but .aftetrwards, when he attended meetings and conferences of those interested, he found that his discovery was a source of anxiety generally, and that until the Control Board functioned it would continue to harass them. How to obtain the maximum prices for their products had been the theme of discussion for years at local meetings and conferences, and later on at several conferences when representatives from both islands met in the endeavour to reach something approaching finality. At the last conference the delegates by a very large

majority reached a decision on the terms laid down in the present Act, which would come into operation when the vote had been taken; for he was sure that the Act would be approved by all dairy .farmers except those who came directly under the influence of proprietary concerns. It had been said that the present Act had been sprang upon the people. That such a statement was not in accordance with fact had led the speaker to outline the history of proceedings that terminated in the Introduction of the measure now being ,so actively and bitterly assailed by their opponents, As long as dairy farmers were without cohesion, continued Mr McMillan, they were denied the right of collective bargaining; but with the Act behind them they would be in a position through their representatives on the board to speak with authority to shippwners, to port authorities, to insurance companies, and ito their agents in England. When it was known that the Board handled such a tremendous quantity of butter and cheese they would not require to solicit concessions—offers of reduced rates would be proffered to them. Only the other day a shipping magnate had offered to put at their disposal a number of ships, which would run to a specified time-table even if they had to come out to the Dominion in ballast,- provided they received the transport contract for a definite period. The offer was a bona fide one, but, unfortunately, it was made at a time when there was no recognised body with which the deal could have been closed. The ships carrying their produce at the present time were out-of-date, obsolete for the purpose, and costly to run; and they were run at the expense of the producer. The present Act. said Mr Macmillan, was a good measure, and would greatly benefit the producer by reducing the shipping, insurance, port dues, and handling charges, and would make for efficiency and economy—and all these without any further expense to the farmer, for the maximum levy of %d on butter and l-16d on cheese would be saved by eliminating the sub-agent in New Zealand who received put of the commission of 2% per cent, charged by the London agent one half per cent, in return for sere vices rendered years ago, The rates quoted were the maximum chargeable by the board, a body which was prevented from holding in reserve any sum of money greater than the total amount accruing from one year’s levy, so that whatever surplus remained would go back to suppliers by way of a bonus. Objection was taken to the compulsory clauses, but without those clauses the Act would be useless; the compulsory part of the measure was the Act. The Board, said Mr Macmillan, would consist of twelve members: nine elected by the suppliers themselves, two appointed by the Government, and one to represent the proprietary interests. As the majority would be composed of men interested personally in butter and cheese production, they could be sure that in working for their own welfare these members would at the .same time* be doing all they could for the aggrandisement of dairy, farmers in generalLately he had come in contact with men who, like Sir W. Rutherford-and others, had devoted their lives to stock-rearing. Not one of these men had even hinted that the Meat Control Board had failed in a single particular. They had informed him that during an existence of, months •great economies had been effected, and that they had participated in these economies by receiving increased returns for their products. That Act, too, had been subjected to fierce; criticism, and had it failed to realise to the full the expectations of its promoters they would have heard. He prophesied that, the history of the Dairy Control Act would be similar, and that it would produce the results prognosticated by Captain Colbeck. The chairman, after reading a brief synopsis of the Abt, invited questions. In reply to Mi' Smith Mr Buchanan stated that suppliers would not be paid on a flat rate. Payments would be on shipment per shipment and grade per grade. A flat rate would not be good business, nor would it give satisfaction. Asked what would become of the agents and sub-agents, Captain Colbeck stated that no one need worry about them. They were keen, levelheaded gentlemen who would always make money. At the request of the chairman those present declared their willingness to interview their neighbours and do their best to persuade them to vote on the Act,- either for or against. On the motion of Mr AIL Alley the speakers were cordially thanked for speeches which contained much valuable information that concerned them very closely. PERSONAL. Mr W. Langdon, with his wife and family, left Hikutaia for Okoroire, where he takes over the management of a farm. For some time past Mr Langdon has been employed on Mr P. Corbett’s farm near Hikutaia. CATTLE SALE. At the fortnightly cattle sale held by the Farmers’ Auctioneering Co. on Wednesday there was a large yarding and a good attendance of buyers. As usual, stores were in demand, as also were good: .class springers, for both of which satisfactory prices were realised. A large line of grade and other Jerseys from Taranaki was quickly disposed of at reasonable rates. A Cadillac seven-seater motor-car (old pattern) was quitted at £3O. BOWLING GREEN. By way of preparing the green for the official opening, the date of which has yet to be fixed, (considerable work is being done to the' bowling green. It looks beautifully green, and will look better when the small patches of cover that have made their appearance have been weeded out. TENNIS. At a meeting of the committee of the Tennis Club held on Tuesday night it was decided to organise a social for the evening of the- 11th inst., a sub-committee being elected to make the necessary ai'r&ng'ejaents.