PRICE-FIXING CONTROVERSY

Shannon News, 14 April 1927, Page 4

PRICE-FIXING CONTROVERSY

ISSUES FACING THE FARMERS. There were, 'Mr. Brechin said at a meeting of farmers and business men held at Masterton last week in order to discuss the dairy position, three vital issues facing farmers in this country. First, there was the matter of the Arbitration Court and its extraordinary decisions. That affected farmers, whether they were sheep or dairy farmers. Secondly, there vvas the matter of the control board and its policy, and thirdly many farmers -were asking: “How long can I.stay on my farm? These were the vital- questions and the battle was on. They should take their coals off and accept the gage from .the Arbitration Court, and from the anti-control people. Why?— to keep their farms. That was the frigid fact they were up against as dairy farmers. He regarded control as a matter purely for the dairy farmer. Some fifty-five thousand dairy farmers in this country were producing £20,000,000 worth of produce per annum, and of this quantity £16,000,000 was exported. Farmers in any country w’ere the real -wealth producers. “Mr. Caselb.erg and Mr. Myers represent one side,” continued Mr. Brechin, “and we represent the other. Mr. Caselberg represents n section of the community wliick makes money out ot the farmers. Mr. J. Caselberg: “Used to.”

Mr. Brechin said that Mr. Caselberg and Mr. Myers were engaged in a perfectly legitimate business. ThiU very fact made it impossible for them to look at thing's from the farmers’ point of view. Their education had been on the lines of making money out of someone else.

Mr. D. Caselberg:: "“Same as you.” Mr. Brechin: “Exactly. The whole point is that you make money out ol someone else. He makes it for himself.”.. ..Ninety-eight per cent, of the wealth of this country comes off the land, and if the. farmers struck the whole country would come to a standstill and Mr. Caselberg’s business would go West Mr. Caselberg in hi 3 address denied you the right to fix your prices.” Mr. J. Caselberg: “Competition does that.”

Mr. Brechin said that Mr. Caselberg not only fixed the price at one end. He did it at both ends. Mr J. Caselburg: “Don’t mention names. . Why don’t you say the ordinary business man?”