DAIRY PRODUCE EXPORT.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 October 1922, Page 7

DAIRY PRODUCE EXPORT.

ORGANISATION THE GREAT NEED. THE CONTROL PROPOSAL. MR. NOS WORTHY EXPLAINS. The Minister of Agriculture (Mr Norworthy), speaking at Paraparaumu, made reference to the objects of the proposed dairy pool. The idea underlying the proposal to set up a board for the dairy indus-' try, said the Minister, was that New Zealand should be kept in the forefront of the British overseas possessions. in organisation for marketing purposes. Before the pas-sing of the Meat Export Control Act the prospects for meat, and wool had been as black ae possible. The producers h’ad been told that the markets were glutted. I n every way the position had been painted as hopeless. In the .face of considerable opposition from interested parties, the Government had put through the Meat Export Control Act, and hardly had a board been formed when it was revealed that there wasno serious glut in the Old Country. The meat market rose, and to-day very fair prices were being obtained. The Meat Export Control Board was the outcome of a determination that the producers should take their business into their own hands, and have a responsible board which would keep entirely familiar with market conditions, and take steps to improve the position if it was found that the meat was not being dealt with satisfactorily through the usual channels. The Dairy Bill now before Parliament had been drafted with the. object of giving the producers- power to have a board which would watch their interests, keep continually apprised of market conditions, and find new markets. Along with the Meat Board, the Dairy Board would ibe able to go to the shipping interests, and, speaking with one voice for all the producers of the country, negotiate contracts for the carriage of the whole of the country’s produce overseas. Union was strength. If the producers engaged in co-operation on a national scale they would be able to strengthen their position, and add greatly to the national inheritance. He did not wish his hearers to interpret his speech as a criticism of the shipping interests. New Zealand must have first-class shipping on account of its great distance from the Old Country, and he believed that it had good shipping available. The country should, however, Ibe able to arrange for the ■shipment of its produce in such a way that the present fluctuations in cargo would be avoided. It would be to the advantage not only of the producers and the -shipping companies, but to the advantage of the whole Dominion, to have the export of produce better organised. What Denmark had done had been achieved by organisation. Denmark, however, was comparatively near the British market. New Zealand being far away, required to make an even greater effort of organisation than Denmark had made.

One of the great troubles of New Zealand had been that in a good season unsystematic shipment had led to the arrival of great quantities of produce on the market at the one time. •Slumps had resulted, and the speculator had been given an opportunity of buying cheaply and selling again at a profit? He had no quarrel with the legitimate speculator, but it was to the interests of the New Zealand producers to supply the London market in such a, way that the output would not be dumped on the market all at, the one time. One of the main objects of the present proposal was that the producers should be able to see that the market was regularly and evenly fed, and a more even price obtained.

.Some would say that the aim of the promoters of the Dairy Produce Export Control Bill was to boost prices l and raise them unfairly against the consumer. It was nothing of the kind. All that the producers looked for was a reasonable and dependable market. It was not interference with business that was aimed at, but organisation. Only by organisation could the people of New Zealand succeed in the rivalry with their competitors.

It may be suggested that the Government consider whether it should associate itself so actively with the controversy (says the Auckland Herald). I After all, the marketing of dairy produce is a business matter that concerns those engaged in the industry, and beyond providing facilities for legislation desired by the industry as a whole, or by the majority of the interests concerned, there is no occasion -for the Government to ally itself with either party. In fact, the part taken by the Department of Agriculture in the propaganda for the pool has been used to create the impression that the purpose is not co-operative control, but Government control.