CORRESPONDENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 June 1922, Page 5

CORRESPONDENCE.

DAIRY POOL. (To the Editor.) Sir, —Whilst the farmers generally hav< never opposed the formation of labor unions or suggested that workers in any particular trade had not a perfect right t< join in a union to protect their they have always opposed preference tc unionists and opposed combination or federation formed with the object of, or likely to rest in, giving power to such tc enforce their will or impose conditions on other sections or on the whole community. And yet to-day the farmers of this country are placed in a false and absolutely unjust position by certain persons, porng as leaders of the dairying industry, endeavoring to force the whole of the producers in the dairying industry into a great combine— the Dairy Pool—and to make such compulsory on all, they would ask the Government to pass legislation and to legislatively impose on the producers an export tax to forcibly provide funds for the combine. The promoters of this combine do not propose to ask Parliament at this stage for such powers over the produce required for local consumption. And why? Doubtless because they do not want to invite opposition from the consumers generally and from labor circles particularly. They credit the general public with so little intelligence that they imagine that it will not be obvious to all that, if they, the promoters, succeeded in their professed aims, the inevitable result to the consumers here would be increased prices in exact proportion to any increased price obtained at Home, or any increased return obtained by any means on produce shipped. In answer to questions on the subject, the promoters replied to the effect that the consumer at Home was not their concern, but that it would not be wise' to ask for powers over supplies required for local consumption. In other words, they do not hestitate to ask the Parliament of this Dominion for powers so that they may endeavor to market their produce under conditions, and enforce prices on the British consumer other than those obtaining in a free market, subject to ordinary laws of supply and demand—and it has to be remembered that their declared object is, on having got power over the New Zealand producer and his produce, to at once federate with similar combinations in other countries, so as to have absolute power —these British consumers are distant, and, they care not for them, but they hesitate to ask for the same powers with reference to consumers here, who are near, have votes, and can fight. Expediency, not merit! I merely put the position as it would be if the promoters succeeded in their aims. Ido not suggest other than that the higher price that can be obtained fairly for our exports the greater advantage to all in this country; but my object in writing you is to protest against Parliament being asked to grant powers desired for the purposes of enmpulsion and with the object of arbitrarily controlling prices, and to protest against the farmers of this country being placed by these self-appointed leaders in the exceedingly false position of being made to appear parties to a scheme for the creation of a great combine—Dairy Pool federated with similar concerns in other countries—when throughout the past they have fought and protested, by every means in their power, against others, whether labor alliances or federations or trade trusts or any other kindred kind of combination making use of any such means to gain undue power.—l am, etc., n , T E. MAXWELL. Opunake, June 3, 1922.