ONE BOARD

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12621, 4 December 1926, Page 9

ONE BOARD

FOR MEAT AND DAIRY PRODUCE “TOO MUCH TALK DECONTROL” DAIRY BOARD SHOULD SELL “Since the formation of the Dairy Control Board, there has been far too much talk of ‘control,’ and this idea of ‘control’ is hindering, not helping, at the present moment,” declared Sir George Elliot, chairman of directors of the Bank of New Zealand, at the halfyearly meeting of shareholders yesterday, in a reference to the primary produce of the country. He suggested that, as the chief problems of the Dairy Board and the Meat Board were identioal, a merger would prove successful, and a small board could manage both meat and dairy produce. “Without a doubt the industrial unrest in the United Kingdom accounts for the decided fall in the value of dairy products,” said Sir George. “Under the circumstances, the supply of butter and cheese has greatly exceeded the demand. “An appreciable quantity of butter from a number of dairy factories was held up in the hope that the market would improve. ' This hope has, unfortunately, not been realised, with tho result that deteriorating stocks are blocking the gangway of the new season’s output just arriving in London. “KEEP ON SELLING” “The holding up of a perishable article involves a serious risk, and the New Zealand producer cannot afford such gambling on the market. What a speculator may do under given circumstances does not affect the principle; in general, the wisest course for a dairy company to pursue is to sell and keep on selling. . . . “Onoe upon a time in Egypt, many centuries ago, ‘control’ was successful, but that ‘control’ was connected with wheat—a much less perishable article than butter or cheese, and, furthermore, circumstances were different. ‘Control’ has been tried many times , and in many, countries sipce thgs£ jjfli y-

o ffdays, but with very little success. GRAVE DANGER “There is no doubt whatever that the members of the Dairy Control Board are animated by the very high* est motives, and are honestly trying to improve the conditions of the trade. There is no doubt, also, that the board was set up by Parliament at the request of the majority of dairy farmers themselves, but there is always a grave danger that the members elected to the board may not possess the training or knowledge necessary for the running of a great business undertaking, ana before they realise that they do not know as much as they ought to know, the affair they are managing may get into exceedingly deep water. “From the inception of the Dairy Control Board it was obvious that ‘control,* if carried too far, might become a menace to the greatest primary industry in the Dominion. BOARD OF FIVE “As the chief problems of the Meat Control Board and the Dairy Control Board are identical, the merging of the two into one would result, not only in a great reduction in expenditure, but would make for greater efficiency, especially if the number of the members on the combined board were reduced considerably—say, to a total of five—two representatives from each industry, with a chairman appointed by the Government. “I am certain that one small, wellselected board could manage the business now carried on by the two boards much more advanta-gcousN* from every point of view.”