DAIRY PRODUCE CONTROL.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 October 1922, Page 7

DAIRY PRODUCE CONTROL.

THE EXPORT LEVY. MR. MAXWELL REPLIES. Mr. E. Maxwell, of Rahotu, writes:— I regret to have to ask you to be so good as to afford me space again, but I must reply to Mr. Connett. I utterly fail to understand Mr. Connett. Clearly he does not in the least understand the measure he is assisting to promote, and cannot read English, or then he is wilfully attempting to hide the truth. His statements as to the export levy and council are absolutely contrary to fact. My letter referred to the statements made at the meeting held in New Plymouth on Friday, the 6th—Friday last. The Bill was then by their own admission in the hands of Mr. Grounds, who had come to instruct our ignorance and explain the Bill to us, and in the hands of Mr. Morton, chairman of the meeting. I repeat that the speakers, including Mr. Connett, .made statements as to the Bill, which are contrary to fact. The Bill does not contain any limit of amount of export levy. Regulations under the Bill cannot be made until the Bill becomes law, and when made may contain any unknown amount, and may, from time to time, be amended and extended. The Bill does not contain one word as to any council, advisory or otherwise. But the Bill does provide for a practically continuous board, as the utmost change that could be effected in any one year would be the introduction of three new men, leaving an overwhelming majority—eight out of eleven—of the old board in office. Mr. Connett’s letter is a striking instance warranting the distrust felt. PROTEST FROM TIKORANGI. An emphatic protest at the provisions of the proposed Dairy Produce Control Act was voiced at a meeting of shareholders of the Tikorangi Co-operative Dairy Company, held on Tuesday evening. Mr. C. Foreman (chairman of directors) presided. The following resolution was unanimously carried: "That this meeting of suppliers of the Tikorangi Co-operative Dairy Company most strongly protest against the proposed Dairy Produce Export Control Act on the grounds that it is unjust, a restraint on trade, and fraught with grave political and economic dangers, which will probably prove disastrous not only to the producers, but to the whole community. This company pledges itself -to use every constitutional means to defeat this latest attempt to interfere with the dairy industry of the Dominion.”

It was further decided that Mr. J. Whitehead, a director of many years standing, and the secretary (Mr. J. Hine), proceed to Wellington to give evidence before the Parliamentary Committee against the Bill. Mr. Foreman, chairman of directors, found it impossible to get away.