DAIRY PRODUCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 June 1920, Page 7

DAIRY PRODUCE.

(Continued from Page 6.) Zealand produce had a good name, and their soldiers were thought a great deal of, and people would take their produce in preference to that from other countries. They wanted to be able to get finance in case of hold-ups from any cause, and if they could be assured of this they should go in for the scheme. Some day the question of a selling floor of their own would come up, hut at present that would be a difficult problem. He would advise the meeting to adopt the principle of marketing their produce and set up committees so that tjiey could bring out a prospectus and decide it at a future date. He hoped it would not be turned down, as otherwise they might lose an opportunity which would never occur again. Mr. Ellison, in reply, said a lot had been heard about butter being sold in the South and not in the North. The same applied to cheese, but war exigencies "had got cheese there, and it was appreciated. If they had the control in their own hands they would get an outlet in the North that they never had before, and if the butter could be pushed in the North that would double the competition for it. Regarding finance, this, lie said, largely depended In security, and if they had the security they would get the advance, and then wire the owners of the produce, which was the basis of the advance. Assuming they were making an experiment, was not the present time a most opportune one, when butter was in short supply? It was humbug to say that they would lose a connection. The War period had broken down the prejudice regarding pale butter, as people were glad to get what butter they could. The C.W.S. did not come to tbwi V-ccawc thev went to the C.W.S. They heard a lot about the ultra radical socialist element. They were the consumers, comprising 8S per cent of the population, and were workers, spinners, miners, etc., and if the workers were ! not going to eat their produce, who was? He did not think it a fair thing to endeavor to belittle these men, who had fought alongside our boys. To open up their own stores meant building up a clientele, whilst in this organisation they had a ready outlet for their produce, and would largely get the same results as if they had their own floor. He pointed out that their scheme was different to the one that Mr. Buckeridge proposed to go in. Like the co-op societies here, the co-op. societies at Home were free of taxation, but there had been attempts made to have them pay income tax, and if that wa3 successful it might be used as the basis of a similar attempt here. If Danish butter was to be displaced it would not bo by Irish butter, but by N.Z. butter, which approximated more closely to Danish butter. The policy of the C.W.S.'was for decontrol. He knew the history of the attempted charter since rts inception. That proposed charter was known to certain gentlemen on the Butter and Cheese Committee. The charter was to control the butter and cheese coming into England from all parts for a number of years, and the only man that did not know about it was the representative of the C.W.S. It was kept secret and was to be smuggled through under the Defence of the Realm Act, but this failed. New Zealand was to have one representative on a Board of 24, but the Irishmen were to be shut out, and that caused a dust to he raised. The people that wanted the charter wanted control. He felt the proposal was a sound proposition, and it depended largely on themselves asi to whether it was a success or not. If they would come in and support those working upon it they would make a huge success of the proposal. A RESOLUTION. Mr. W. D. Powdrell then moved:— "That this meeting of producers of New Zealand is of opinion that immediate steps should be taken tqfoi'm a company in New Zealand to cooperate with the C.W.S. for the marketing of our produce in Great Britain." While favoring a floor of their own, Mr. Powdrell said that they must walk before they could run. Regarding finance the C.W.S. were quite willing to find 50 per cent of the SO per cent advance in produce in accordance with the usual custom. Mr. McFarlane seconded. In reply to a question, Mr. Powdrell said that' there had been a rumor that his company had disposed of its produce this year. This was not so. He would do his utmost to have his company join at once. Mr. T. A. Bridge (Kaupokonui) also spoke. In reply to Mr. Bond, the president j said that'the taking of shares did not entail the sending of their produce through the Association. Continuing, the chairman said the vote would be taken on the voices, one vote for each factory. Even in the event of the proposal being turned down by the meeting the company would still be formed. There need be no conflict between this company and the N.D.A. It would be open to any dairy company in New Zealand to join the company. Mr. Corrigan asked whether it would prejudice the company if formed strong enough to be independent of the C.W.S. Mr. Ellison thought it would be better to pursue the policy already discussed, as they had the assistance of the C.W.S. in'their retail outlet. It would in no way interfere with launching the bigger scheme later. They must not lose sight of the fact that the C.W.S. was to find 50 per cent of the 80 per cent advanced. Mr. Corrigan considered the dairy producers should form a company of their own. Mr. Maxwell said that a section favored the formation of a company of their own, whereas others said that they could later on establish their own floor, but he pointed out that It was obvious that the C.W.S. would have a say as to whether they could alter the company once it was formed. The chairman said that those who were going in for the scheme would see that they had the power to withdraw if they wished. The' resolution was put and carried. Mr. R. W. D. Robertson, on behalf of Toolev Street, thanked 5 the chairman for the hearing they had received. COMMITTEE APPOINTED. At a subsequent meeting a committee was set up to carry out details comprising the executive of the National Dairy Association, Messrs. J. B. Murdoch. McFarlane, and Brecon, and four members to be appointed by the South Island producers.