BOARD OF TRADE CRITICISED.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2242, 22 February 1921, Page 3

BOARD OF TRADE CRITICISED.

At a meeting of the Manawatu Executive of ttfe sub-provincial Branch of the Farmers’ Union on Saturday, .correspondence was received from the Board of Trade with reference to the market rate of linseed oil, and it was stated that the tribunal was making a full investigation of prices. A further letter stated that the market was xcp- disturbed as the result of prices falling in London. The latest price for boiled oil in England was 3s fid per gallon. Some merchants were sacrificing their stocks to avoid greater loss, No case of profiteering could be sustained against Palmerston North, oil merchants, The price in England of 3s fid per gallon was known to the tribunal, but the price had not affected the market to any great degree.

Mr Buchanan said he was not satisfied with the work of the Board and he moved the following motion, which was seconded by Mr Lynch: “That this meeting considers that the Board of Trade is not doing effective work, and should be reconstituted giving fairer representation to farmers.”

Mr Lynch said the resolution would probably havfc the effect of' stirring the Board of Trade to life. At present the community was at the mercy of everyone. ' The chairman said he agreed that something would have to be done, but if the Board was abolished matters would not improve. Either the personnel of the Board required altering or the existing Board should adopt different tactics. At present very little was done for the good of the farmer —all the prosecutions had been in connection with the sale of shoes and similar articles. Mr Lynch said the Board was very lax, and he quoted an instance in which, he said, a conviction for profiteering could have been obtained had the Board taken the trouble to investigate.''' The general feeling of the meeting was that the farming community was not adequately represented. The motion was carried unanimoitslv.