COMMANDEERING CHEESE.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 June 1916, Page 3

COMMANDEERING CHEESE.

MEETING AT ELTHAM. The meeting of directors of cheese factories, that was convened by Mr A. Morton, President of the National Dairy Association, at Eltham, yesterday, to discuss the question of the price in connection with the proposal of the Government to commandeer next season's cheese, was not very largely attended. Mr. A. Morton occupied the chair, and the following factories were represented :—Patua. Warea, Frankley, Bell Block, White Cliffs, Waitoitoi,' N"aere Mangatoki, .Tolls, Hawera. Kauopkonui! Eltham, Awatuna and Oxford. The chairman explained the causes of the overlapping of the meetings. Though not representing a cheese factorv as chairman of the National Dairy Assoeia' tion, he felt it his duty to call the meeting ln the interests of the cheese industry. Both parties had acted in good faith, and in the interests of the industry. The Hawera meeting at which practically the whole of the South Taranaki factories were represented had resolved to fix the price* at ■m, which was equivalent to the average price netted on the open market last season, and had appointed a coin, nuttee to arrange details and submit he same to the National Dairy Association to be placed before the Government at the conference to be held on Friday next. In the event of the Government not accepting this price, a committee consisting of one representative from each factory would meet tc discuss terms. A circular had been received from the National Dairv Association intimating that it was not intended °" e P" M »* next Friday's meeting, out that the Government would afterwards call meetings in the various districts.

Mi J. Connett (Bell Block), said that the Hawera meeting was called with the best motives, but he considered that he not so great now that the Government had indicated that the price was not to be fixed at Eridav's conference. He thought that the better course to pursue was to leave the matter in the hands of the National Di y Association, which should invite the cooperation of representatives of cheese /actones to confer with them at the .nidation to cheese factories, as to »hat they considered a fair price If a ead that they would bo willing to follow, and would tend to uniformitv He.Wore moved in the direction

Tn reply to Mr. Powdrell, the mover said that the seven men elected should Ishnd' reSelltatiVe ° f tl,C ' wh 4 - Vorth

ed^'J^r'' 0 " considered that this would conflict with what was done at Hawera.

Another speaker considered that the proposed committee could' make as .rood a bargain as representative, from every factory but it cemld not satisfactorily sell another man's produce forma. Bm ' geSS SeC ° nd<,<l th '° motion P'°

. Mr. Connett said that they were dealing w.th the matter under charged Th tl h ° ? tion at Hi '"™ ™M not he taken to represent the whole ol the North island, and his Idea was to have uniformity throughout the whole North Island, and prevent, say making conflicting demands. When the Government bought, they would buy at a uniform price. Mr; Powdreil said that the meeting Hawera had been practically unanF mous. It had gn-en the National Dairy Association some grounds to go unon when , t „ ie t the Government in conference They bad good reasons for asking the price they bad done, and what was more, be believed that the Government was willing to give it. # Mr. Marx did not see how the meeting could over-ride. what was done at Hawera If njd were not accepted and the. Government made a counter suggestion, provision was made for tbe whole position to be reconsidered by a committee comprising a representative of every cheese factory. Mr. Connetfasked whether the ro«ohi. tion passed in Taranaki was tlie oily one that would be passed The f'ov eminent would also have to "consider resolutions.from other districts Mr. Honeyncld (l'atua), said that they should all pull one way and strengthen the hands of the National .Dairy Association.

Mr. Morrison (Ngaere), thought thev had made the mistake of asking too High a price. The Government could give what they liked.

Mr. l'owdre'll said that the Government could commandeer, but they could not fix the price. He did not consider the price asked was too hH, though it seemed a big jump from !>i to njd. Moreover, he did not think tha, it won I<l drop, because there were only 7000 crates of New Zealand ami Australian and flo,sr>n crates of Canad!o",^ l ' Ce , t ' in fitock " ow > as against 13.(100 and C3,non respectively last year Mr. James (F.ltham), moved, as an amendment, this meeting confirm ■< the ncfiou taken at Hawera on Saturday." The producers should show a straight front to the Government The other parts pf the North Island and tlie South Island could look after themselves. He did not altogether a«roe with fixing the price at O.'.d. ° The amendment was seconded by Mr Baker (Frankley), and carried.