The Timaru Herald TUESDAY, MARCH 23, 1926. DAIRY CONTROL.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 23 March 1926, Page 6

The Timaru Herald TUESDAY, MARCH 23, 1926. DAIRY CONTROL.

Quite a useful service ha.s been rendered' the dairy industry of New Zealand by the chairman of the Dairy Control Hoard, who is at present engaged in a speaking' tour of the Dominion. Prior to the commencement of Mr Grounds’ platform aotivitie.% it was stoutly contended by the supporters of absolute control that the majority of producers were whole-heartedly in favour of the Board’s policy. Mr Grounds has at least exploded that contention; indeed it is now claimed the chairman of the Board is arousing the country to the real moaning of the Board’s proposals. Hence the growing opposition. Not only so, but as August Ist approaches, the opposition gathers strength in London. The ‘-‘lmperial Food Journal,” for instance, always in opposition to anything in the. nature of control, devotes considerable space to reproducing opinions expressed in English and New Zealand newspapers, which point out the dangers of “absolute control.” The followingletter from “A Man in the (Tooloy) street” is also published.

“The biggest revolutionary changes ever contemplated in connection with the distribution of dairy produce on this market is about to be put into lorce as from August Ist, 1926. The New Zealand Dairy "Control Board bavo now- taken extensive-offices in Adelaide House, adjacent to Tooley Street. They have appointed a manager at a salary of £3OOO per annum, free of incometax, and with the assistance of two farmer directors from New Zealand, this Control Board a]o about to decide what is to be dono with the twenty million pounds sterling worth of dairy produce which annually is produced in the Dominion of Neiv Zealand. Although tho majority of dairy farmers in New Zealand have not expressed themselves in favour of this drastic change, nevertheless the Dairy Central Board have secured an Act of Parliament which they contend not only enables them to regulate shipments, fix rates of freight, etc., but to dictate to the dairy factories in Now Zealand, proprietary and co-o|Xiratiye alike, to whom they shall send their produce, and furthermore, they claim the right to fix tho price to be paid for such produce.”

Supporting the opponents of absolute control, the New Zealand Free Marketing League insists that the adoption of the policy of absolute control, while depriving- the individual and the factory of many of tleir present incentive towards effort and achievement, would add nothing to the security or the opportunity of the industry, On the other hand, the League claims, “any system of absolute- control” at this juncture, would imperil much of the ground already gained l:y impairing the spirit of co-opera-tion, by -.discouraging competition, which Iras been described as the “soul of business,” and by consigning the future management of the industry to a body at present representing only a small minority pf the producers, and insufficiently acquainted with the many commercial and financial questions involved in the course the Dairy Control Board proposes to pursue. On all sides it is agreed, however, that there is ample scope for the activities of the Board, as the Meat Control Board, endowed with similar authority, already has demonstrated, in reviewing factory conditions, improving quality, cheapening and expediting- land and sea transit, regulating supplies on' a. sound basis, assisting in the opening up <>f new markets, and exercising- a helpful supervision over the whole industry. Close observers of the somewhat bewildering movements of the produce market, contend that, there is enough work to occupy the attention of the. Board tor many years. The “Evening Post,” after- a judicial survey of the position, urges the Dairy Board to make use of the great opportunity it has to advance thebest, interests of the industry, without. entering upon the hazardous experiment of absolute control, “ft is conceded,” says 1 the “Post,” “that the Board can do an immense amount, of work of great benefit, to the industry without interfering with the distribution of the produce, without exercising the absolute control it lias decided upon, without antagonising- any firm engaged in the distribution of produce in the British markets, without cufringing- the rights of jHoducers or anyone else to dispose of 'their own property; but will be playing with a very dangeious weapon if it lakes up absolute control ef Dairy produce to be exported after Ist August next. At the very least, it is held by many intimately connected with the dairying industry the Board should announce that compulsion shall not operate until the new system, of election of the Board is agreed to, and Parliament has bad opportunity of reconsidering the matter and a new Board is elec,led,.” The course, of the controversy which lias been raised round the question, of absolute control, several points of contention have, boon raised. The statement that, the (iont.ro] Board has the support of 11 1 cj majority <f producers is vigorously disputed by the opponents of absolute control, who say that Hie producers were led to believe that, the compulsory clause in the Act. was meioly a, safeguard and would not be used except in extreme emergency. Moreover, the- producers have lo face the ever growing opposition in consuming countries to the activities of produce controlling- Boards. Postponement of the operations of the compulsory clause does not moan, it. lias been repeatedly ppinled out, in any wav rescinding this |,i ovi.- ion, as it might, .yeti be found very necessary at. some

future date, but it does mean that the Control Hoard by postponing compulsion would be able to “dairy on” with the good work, supported by the friendly support and invaluable co-operation of the large majority of dairymen who though anxious to assist the Board to reach a, sounder basis* in its operations, are convinced that the time is'not. opportune'for the introduction of absolute control of the dairy industry. DISCORD IN EDEN. Quite a flutter has been caused in the political dovecots of Eden hv the persistent refusal of Miss Melville to. obey the edict of the Reform organisations in the electorate. It. is presumed that the Government, party organisers gave the lady a fair run in the selection ballot., and that a majority of the supporters of the Government-preferred a. readymade knight, to* an ambitious feminist. Miss Melville says that the Reform organiser indicated Ins preference by saying, “We want, a member who is fit. for Ministerial rank; one who can go into the Cabinet right away.'’ Unhappily some evil spirit seems to have tossed the apple of 1 discord into the political garden of Eden, and the critics are already showing an inclination to aav that if the Government loses Eden, the. blame must fall on a woman! The choice of the Reform nominee rests, of course, with the electors of Eden. Miss Melville seems to have submitted her name for the selection ballot; she addressed the assembled delegates ; and from all appearances had no chance of becoming the chosen one, while the electorate had the opportunity of selecting a candidate “who can get into the Cabinet right away.” What, chance had a mere woman against such overwhelming odds. Very few electorates have, such an inducement offered them! Doubtless Mr Coates will have something io say on this point! On the other hand Mists Melville urges in her own favour that she docilely and courageously served the Party iu hotly contested • election campaigns where she was the standard-hearer of a forlorn hope, as far as the particular electorate was concerned. Now- that the Party lias a safe seat vacant, Miss Melville cannot, understand vliy she should not he acceptable, since she was considered fully qualified to cany the banners of Reform into the enemy’s camp in Grey Lynn. That, is a question only the electorate can answer. The Prime Minister Ijlnys little or no ‘part in the selection of candidates. He certainly endorses the decisions of the representatives in. the electorate, but that is all. Many who have watched Miss Melville’s civic activities and have applauded her magnificent, platform work in the liurly burly of fiercely contested election campaigns, will regret, not only her failure to win in the selection ballot, but her subsequent decision to ignore the considered judgment of the party organisation. There is 110 room for vote splitting iu Eden election. The contest will be fiercely-fought, without many of the factors which gave the Government such a big victory in November. If, however, united Labour fights against a divided house, it is by lip means certain that the Government can hold the seat, notwithstanding the big majority cast for Mr Coates and his policy at the general election.