DAIRYMEN, AWAKE!

Taranaki Daily News, 4 May 1917, Page 3

DAIRYMEN, AWAKE!

To the Editor. r S'r,—Can you inform me how many more times the dairy farmers of Taranaici are going to bo beaten before tliey have a win? lam afraid never until ive change our leaders as the people in the Old Country have done. In your Saturday's issue we have an account of a meeting held in Wellington between representatives of the dairy industry from almost every district in New Zealand and the Minister of Agriculture, on the question of the butter-tax. Now. what do we find? Simply this. A very full account broadcast througlv New Zealand, per medium of the Press Association, of what the Minister had to say in reply, and, reading same, the people would naturally follow his lead and think what he wants them to think, and our side, or the men mostly interested, simply know nothing. The very fact that representative men from ail over the North Island went down shows that we had a good case, and those who went down should have used the press on our behalf to eradicate the wrong impression. Sir, I say this: Until we put a real live man at the* head of the dairy industry in this country on our behalf we are going to be left. At the Hawera meeting, when representatives were being chosen, to go to Wellington to see the Minister, Mr. Powdreil told u« (he was going to Wellington to put more of the tax on to the butter people. Ho was asked not to do so, and not to raise such a question, 'hut to go solid" and not divide the butter and cheese men; but I have been told that Mr. Powdreil was one of the chief speakers, and ho put the same issue before the Minister that lie was aeked. not to. Then I have heard that 'Mr. Morton, the chairman of the National Dairy 'Association, was in Wellington the day before, hut) could not go with the deputation, as he had to return to New Plymouth. ' Is it any wonder that we don't win out on these big issues? Now, Mr Editor the position has to be faced, and that quickly. We will have to reconstruct the National Dairy Association, and make it so strong that every factory in 'New Zealand will have to join. This, in my opinion, can only be done 'by putting in a permanent paid head (and don't forget that it will cost, from £ISOO to £2OOO per year to get the man we want), or the N.D.A. will have to be put aside and another association 'built on its ashes. The next three months the dairy farmer lias to put on his thinking cap and make up his mind what he wants and stick to it, and attend every meeting that is called, and let us finally fix the whole thing at a monster meeting that could be held at the most central place, say in ■Tulv. "Efficiency!" is the cry. Let's put it into the dairy industry, and endeavor to place the industry in such a strong financial position tihat none will feel the crushing weight of taxation that must, inevitably come after the fearful conflict is over, for the end is not yet in sight.—l ant. etc., WILLIE J. FREKTH. Tukearuhe, May 2.