THE DAIRY POOL.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 November 1922, Page 7

THE DAIRY POOL.

PARLIAMENTARY IMPRESSIONS. Questioned with regard to the Dairy Produce Control Bill, which has been definitely held over as far as the present session is concerned, Mr. R. Masters, M.P., gave a Daily News representative some of his impressions of Parliament’s action. Mr. Masters was a member of the committee set up to take evidence concerning the proposed legislation, and while not actually opposed to the Bill, he led the criticism or the measure. “Yes, I have seen the Press message to the effect that Mr. Massey proposes to hold any legislation in connection with this matter for this session,” said Mr. Masters. “Quite naturally I am pleased that he has adopted this course, because, in speaking on the question in the House, I urged him not to rush legislation of such an important nature through in the dying hours of the session when such a large body of public opinion of those directly interested was opposed to the measure in its present form. I find a feeling has been created that those who voted for the motion to refer the matter back for further consideration are opposed to legislation in regard to marketing. Nothing is further from actual facts. Every member of the House realises that something has to be done to improve our marketing methods, particularly in regard to shipping, but there are those, of whom I am one, who believe, in view of the fact that Parliament is divided on the question, that the farmers are divided, as also are factory directors, the Press, and the Parliamentary committee who took the evidence, that such legislation calls for the most serious and mature consideration it is possible to give. “This country is going through a very serious period of its history,” continued Mr. Masters. “It is no time for experimental legislation with 17 million pounds worth of produce, and we cannot afford to speculate on the chances of success. Personally, I have received telegrams, scores of them, from farmers in every part of New Zealand, expressing gratitude for the action I have taken.”

Mr. Masters showed a large number of telegrams, of which the following id a fair sample: “Shareholders’ Co-opera-tive Dairy Company appreciate your action in protecting small dairy factories.” “Congratulate you on your stand re dairy pool. Hundreds dairy farmers in this district have never seen the Bill, but are opposed to compulsion.”

“The official figures from the Department of Agriculture,” said Mr. Masters, “show that 157 factories favor the Bill, and 124 are opposed. As,there are 525 factories in New Zealand this leaves 244 which have not expressed dn opinion on the question. I desire to congratulate Mr. Massey on exercising his good service in heeding the advice tendered him in holding the matter over temporarily. and I am convinced that New Zealand eventually will not regret his action in the matter. Legislation must necessarily come for the improvement of th? marketing of our produce, and no one will be keener to assist than myself, but we must exorcise sound common sense and business judgment on such a vital matter that effects £17,000.000 worth of our primary products. If a compulsory pool must come, then I will strenuously oppose the clause provided in the present Bill that the proprietary concerns of Messrs. Joseph Nathan and Co. and Messrs. J. B. McEwan and Co., with others similarly situated, who control at least one-fifth of the Dominion’s produce, being exempted from the same control as the co-opera-tive dairy companies. Further. T shall oppose, as is also provided in the present Bill, that the Dairy Produce Control Board shall have the power to bring the compulsory clause into operation without first 'having been approved of by the Government. “Now that the Prime Minister has decided, and wisely, to hold the whole matter until next session, it will be possible to have meetings of all suppliers to dairy factories, when an expression of opinion can be made by those directly interested. By adopting such a course the industry has everything to gain and nothing to lose.”