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ATTACK ON CONTROL.

REPLY BY MR. W. GOODFELLOW.

FARMERS NEED NOT WORRY. In the course of an interview on Wednesday Mr W. Goodfellow, managing director of the N.Z. Co-opperative Dairy Co., Ltd., replied to criticism oi’ the proposals of the Dairy Control Board to exercise control over the butter ana ciieese exports of New Zealand. Mr Goodfellow explained that he spoke not as a member of the .Dairy Control Board, but only in his capacity of managing director of the N.Z. Co-operative Dairy Co., which handled approximately one-quarter of ’the butter-fat production in New Zealand.

: “The decision iso far reached by the beard,” said Mr Goodfellow, “is that control shall be exercised, but the degree of control has yet to be determined. A special proviso in this determination, however, was that the existing channels of distribution shall be used as far as possible. This proviso was obviously the crux of the while matter, but in spite of this evidence of caution, that section of the press which is usually more concerned with proprietary and speculative interests than the welfare of the farmer has been pleased to distort and misrepresent the position of the board, in an endeavour to play upon the fears of the farming community and prevent any change from the existing system with its opportunities for speculation. A. particularly glaring instance of these tactics occurred by the publication on Saturday last in an Auckland paper of an editorial comment which was chiefly remarkable for its lack of knowledge of the purport of the board and neglect of the interests of dairy farmers. In spite of the detinue declaration that the existing channels of distribution would still be used, this article advances as the board’s policy the following grotesque perversion of the facts: (1) The abandonment of existing distributive methods; (2) the elimination of middlemen; (3) the creation of elaborate machinery; (4) the undertaking of heavy financial burdens by the board. Having drawn this doleful picture, it is pathetically asked, ‘whence will the board obtain its resources, and how will the suppliers fare while awaiting their dividend,’ after which the writer piously observes ‘very little consideration shows it (the buying and selling of the output) to be less simple than it seems.’ LITTLE CONSIDERATION. “It is perfectly obvious, ’ declared Mr. Goodfellow, “that the writer is correct in his confession of having given ‘very little consideration’ to his subject As the matter is of very vital importance to the farming community it is important that misrepresentation should . receive correction, and therefore it may fairly be pointed out where errors have been made. I do this because I> am desirous of seeing the financial returns of our suppliers increased by proper marketing methods and an additional impetus given to the prosperity of New Zealand. if no effort is made to correct the present haphazard marketing methods with the annual penalty of a severe slump, then a very definite and preventable loss will continue to be suffered by this country as a whole. “Ini the first place, therefore, the writer udeges that it is <?he board’? policy to abandon those existing agencies which have spent years in the business. That is not so I In the main decision to which the board has yet come it is specifically determined tha’t the use of these distributors shall be continued, as far as possible, but that final determination must rest with the board. The writer’s statement of the position is therefore incorrect. In the second place it is alleged that ‘the elimination of middlemen is the object of what is recommended by the board.’ The delegation, makes no such recommendation nor has any such proposal ever been seriously considered. The report of the overseas delegation pays tribute to the service rendered by these agencies in the past, and makes no suggestion whatsoever as to their elimination. Rather it does suggest how greater co-operation can be effected with them, particularly in the opening up of new markets and the better handling of our produce on old markets. This editorial comment is therefore wrong in fact and wrong in principle. NO ELABORATE MACHINERY. “A third allegation is that the board will ‘create elaborate machinery’ to replace that which it ,is suggested will be overthrown. As no machinery is to be. overthrown, obviously no elaborate machinery will be required to replace it. The only machinery so far suggested is a London board of two, with a commercial manager. The duties of this board have yet to be defined, but speaking from experience of the organisation that has operated on behalf of my own company for some years now, it can be said that no elaborate machinery is required to confer definite benefits upon the producers. Under the system of supervision established by ourselves our London office guides and assists the work of the four distributive agents employed. They work harmoniously together, and the agents themselves have found the results attained quite satisfactory, and .this fact was commented upon by the overseas delegation. If control operating over a limited proportion of New Zealand’s outnut can give such excellent results, surely any similar system evolved by the board would concievably render greater aid. “In his final suggestion as to the board incurring heavy financial burdens, and his pathetic solicitude for the poor farmer awaiting hits dividend, the writer, I am compelled to say. betrays complete ignorance of. dairy financial methods. The produce, under existing methods, is its own security for any advance made. No variation in principle or method of finance need be made in any adjustment of control that might be instituted by the hoard. As the board’s proposal is not to interfere with the existing channels of distribution, this

point is really not in issue, but has been raised along with other ineffective pointe in an attempt to cloud the issue. The financial aspect of control is in reality the simplest feature of the business, and no concern need bo felt on this point. SPURIOUS sympathy. "I would like to say in conclusion,” said Mr Goodfellow, “that farmers as a whole are quite capable of recognising the spurious sympathy sometimes expressed on their behalf. The supreme test of whatever degree of control is determined upon by the board will be whether it will improve the condition of the farmer on the land or. not. That is the only real point: at issue. He is the man who is producing the goods, and it is to secure for him and for New Zealand the greatest financial returns possible, that the Control Board has been established. That board is entitled to fair play in its effort to carry out ‘its functions. Deliberate misrepresentation and distortion of its policy are not fair weapons to employ. That the proprietary and speculative interests concerned have been forced to adopt them betrays the weakness of their case in attempting to prevent the atta’nment of those reforms recommended by the overseas delegation, after a considered and a deliberate investigation of the existing marketing methods overseas.”

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/HPGAZ19250223.2.15

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4814, 23 February 1925, Page 3

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,171

ATTACK ON CONTROL. Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4814, 23 February 1925, Page 3

ATTACK ON CONTROL. Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4814, 23 February 1925, Page 3

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