PROTECTING PRODUCERS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 71, 14 September 1911, Page 5

PROTECTING PRODUCERS

A XEW SCHEME. PRATSE FOR HON. T. MACKENZIE. By Telegraph —Press Association. Christchurch, Last Xight. Proposals for the establishment of an association to protect the producers of the Dominion were discussed by the Xorth Canterbury Executive of the Farmers' I'niim to-day. and a motion was moved to the ell'ect that the producers of Xew Zealand should form themselves into a Xew Zealand Producers' Association to further the interests of the producers of the Dominion, and that the necessary legislation be enacted to enable the producers of the Dominion to elect producers' councils with power to make levies for finances required for the management of the Association. Further, that the Dominion be divided into six or more districts, each of which to have a council elected by its members, and one person to be appointed by each divisional council to form an advisory board in London, the duty of which would be to look after the producers' special interests and supervise the methods of handling the Dominion's products. In the course of a lengthy discussion, Mr. George Shcat warmly advocated that the Hon. T. Mackenzie should be appointed as the representative of the Xew Zealand producers in London, and stated that there was a no more capable Minister than (lie Hon. Mackenzie in the Xew Zealand Cabinet, and he would make an idenl High Commissioner. Other speakers endorsed these views.

Mr. 0. 11. Ensor said there were indications tlmt th(> Beef Trust was getting the benefit of the ilill'ereiice in the price realised by producers, which was Ai\, as compared with Sd realised by (he distributors.

Other speakers complained that certainly not the producer was 'benefiting by the difference in the prices realised.

Mr. (!. \V. Leaddy moved an amendment that the motion lie held over for «. fortnight in order to ascertain if the Government intended bringing down a Bill to cover the proposals, but subsequently this was withdrawn, and the original motion was agreed to, and it was decided to refer it to the different branches.