WHO IS TO HANDLE OUR CHEESE?

Southland Times, Issue 18853, 19 June 1920, Page 2

WHO IS TO HANDLE OUR CHEESE?

To the Editor. Sir,-—A meeting of directors of cheese factories is to be held in Invercargill today to negotiate arrangements in conjunction with a body trading under the name of the "Co-operative Wholesale Society,” for the marketing of the New Zealand cheese output.

1 have enquired from several factory directors who attended the recent meeting held it) Dunedin, when the C.W.S. proposals were subjoined, who the C.W.S. really were? Who constituted the majority of their shareholders V For what objects was the society constituted ? And what claim had this society to obtain a prior right of purchasing all New Zealand cheese?

Sir, I could not obtain a definite reply to any of my questions, the best being (hat they seemed to he all right; (hey will certainly cut out the middle man; they will make liberal advances against our consignments, pending final disposal of the produce; and we will have our produce sold in all the numerous retail shops owned and run by the society. Will the directors meeting the representatives of the C.W.S. to-day remember that it is competition that makes the price, that there is no reason why the C.W.S. should not obtain New Zealand cheese (as they are so keen on handling it) by competing with Tooley Street for it, and offering a higher price than they are prepared to give ? The president of the South Island Dairy Association stated at the recent Dunedin meeting: “The society had never had a chance of 'getting a go’ at New Zealand produce.’’ On the terms which they now suggest “having a go” at it, certainly not, but 1 have not heard of any genuine buyer being refused the right of bidding for any factory’s output in the past, and offers made by the C.W.S. for our future production would surely receive the same consideration as is extended to other buyers. But to give a prior light to any society or concern to handle this dominion’s cheese output, surely not. Ask yourself: Is the object of the C.W.S. In give as high a price as possible for our produce, or, to secure it for their members at the lowest rate obtainable. —I am, etc., LOOK BEFOUL YOU JUMP. June IS.