“WHAT’S THE GOOD OF IT?”

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12615, 27 November 1926, Page 5

“WHAT’S THE GOOD OF IT?”

DAIRY FARMERS DEMAND ENDING OF COMPULSORY CONTROL MR HAWKEN CASTIGATED CONTROL BOARD BLAMED FOR STORING OF PRODUCE AT HOME Taranaki dairy farmers, at a m’eeting, demanded that the compulsion power of the Control Board be cancelled. Mr Hawken was castigated for his recent remarks.

(By Telegraph—Special to “Times.”) NEW PLYMOUTH, November 26. Nearly 100 dairy farmers and others interested attended a meeting convened by tile New Zealand Free Marketing League, and held to-day to discuss the position in the industry created by the Dairy Produce Board’s policy of compulsory control. The object of the meeting, said Mr H. M. Purdie, who presided, was to see if something could not be done to overcome the low prices the farmers were receiving for their produce, and to secure the removal of the restrictions placed by the Dairy Control Board on tho disposal of their produce. Mr G. Gibson, secretary of the league, said he could not agree that they were whipping a dead horse, as some might think. They had been riding the same horse for three years, whereas the board was always making statements and contradicting them. He dealt with the disclosures made by Mr Timpnny, remarking that Mr Timpany would not have taken the course lie did unless he had carefully thought ib out. From what he knew of Mr Timpany he would stick to Ids guns. They had not heard the last of him. “What's the good of price-con-trol if we can’t sell the stuff?” ashed Mr Gibson, in condemning the price-fixing policy of the board. Of the 5000 tons of butter consumed in England each week New Zealand in one instance recently had provided ll2| tons. Days after the board had announced its decision to drop its price-fixing policy, and cable advice had come from Home that business was stagnant, and merchants were resenting the price-fixing. AUSTRALIA’S SUCCESS Reference was also made by Mr Gibson to tho opposition from tho retailer at Home, in direct contrast with which, ho said, came the news of the excellent results Australian proditA was obtaining under the Australian Dair3 r Board, which was working on the policy advocated for New Zealand by Messrs lorns and Paterson. It had earned the goodwill of the retailers, and had brought Australian butter nearer in price to New Zealand than it would ever have been. New Zealand butter was unquestionably losing its status under the present system. In criticising Mr Wright, Mr Gibson said the producers wanted a man at Home who would be agreeable and acceptable to their customers, as he could be. It was evident that Mr Wright was not. Mr Gibson moved the following resolution : “That this meeting of dairy produc. ers, already suffering severe loss and damage through the operation of the Dairy Control, Board, calls on the Government to take immediate steps t* cancel the compulsory powers which this autocratic body brought into force in direct opposition to the expressed intentions or its promoters, and to

restore to the dairy farmers their inalienable right to own and dispose of their legitimately acquired property.” "A BETTER BILLET" Mr James Hine, who seconded tho resolution, quoted Mr Hawken’s remark that he did not view seriously the present slump in dairy produce. Mr Hawken, he said, waa not dependent upon milking 40 cows or so for a living. He Had obtained a better billet. If he was dependent upon farming lie would view the present position seriously. (Hear, hear.) Mr Hawken had also stated that the farmers were not employing enough labour. The gentlemen who had been responsible for cutting down the farmers’ incomes by one-half now twitted them with not employing enough labour. The board had disclaimed responsibility for the amount of stored produce in England, but the whole case l’or the board was based on storage, and those factories which had stored were following the teachings of the board. The greatest holder of stored produce was the Waikato concern; SHALL MR TIMPANY GO? So far as Mr Timpany's, position was concerned, Mr Hitte said it appeared to be in jeopardy under the constitution of the board, which provided that any member could be removed by the Governor-General if recommended by the board. The Gov-ernor-General would be Mr Hawken. Mr Hine did not know whether the board would be “game” to recommend such action, but if it did he did not Qiink Air Hawken would have the grit. “The whole policy of the board,” Air Hine summed up, “is a shameful betrayal of our rights and liberty.” Mr Honeyfield (Patea) suggested that the resolution should be made stronger, or the Government asked to subsidise the farmer. Mr Jacob Mark (Mangatoki) also addressed the meeting, stating that while he was in favour of moderate control he was opposed to the present position which was a policy quite different to that expected; by the producers. LARGER ADVANCES ASKED After discussion the resolution was carried unanimously. It was also deoided on the motion of Mr J. S. Connett, to urge the board to make an endeavour to obtain an increased advance on cheese. On the motion of W. C. Green the meeting decided to tender its congratulations to Mr Timpany bn the stand he had taken in disclosing information that should have been made public by the Control Board, and also to ask the Minister for Agriculture to take steps immediately to have the Government nominee, Mr Winks, retired from the Control Board.