N.Z. DAIRY ASSOCIATION AND THE MILK SUPPLIERS' UNION.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 363, 5 November 1898, Page 2 (Supplement)

N.Z. DAIRY ASSOCIATION AND THE MILK SUPPLIERS' UNION.

The following correspondence has been handed to us for publication : [MR JIUTLER TO MR SPRAGG]. September 24th, 1898. Dear Sir, —Your favour of the 15th inst. I have duly laid before my Executive, and I am directed to ask you to meet the Waikato Milk Suppliers' Union at the earliest convenient date. [MR FISHER TO MR SPRAGG.] September 24th, IS9B. Dear Sir, —As Chairman of the Waikato Milk Suppliers' Union, I am directed by the Executive Council to supplement the reply of our secretary to your letter of the 15th inst. You have already been informed that the Uniou was not formed with any view of being antagonistic to your Association, but was formed with the intention to be a channel of communication between the milk suppliers and the Dairy Association, and it is contended that for both parties it will be a better and more business-like method of arranging the details of prices and rules through the officers of the Union, than by the plan hitherto adopted. I think you will agree with me when I say that tho business relations between buyer and seller must be cordial, and I would point out by ignoring the resolutions passed at the meeting of milk suppliers held at Ohaupo on the 19th of July last and declining to confer with the suppliers through the Union, you arc straining the relations that have existed between the Waikato milk suppliers and yourself. The great majority of the suppliers in the Waikato consider that a conference is an imperative necessity between yourself and their representatives to discuss and arrange the rules and prices for the current season, and I trust you will reconsider this matter aud name an early date on which to meet us. TJIR SPKAOG TO MR FISHER.] September 28th, 1898.

Dear Sir,—l hav* received your letter of the 24th inst. I understand it was written in a friendly spirit, and I respond in like maimer. 1 shall do all I can to further the objects which you have in view ; indeed, 1 am directly interested in doing so. I am, however, of opinion that your proposed 1 methods are unworkable, and I believe that I should be doing unwisely if I did not decline to acknowledge them. If your Union is to exist for the information and guidauce of its members, then I have no claim, nor any wish, to criticise its character; but if, as you appear to ixpect, I am to come under its influence, then I cannot but think you have treated me with some discourtesy in not having consulted mc respecting its conditions. Some of these latter I regard aa arbitrary and unwise, and as likely to operate to the disadvantage of some creamery districts, present and proposed, and of many individual suppliers. I hope you expect me to decline to take up a position which would force any of our suppliers, present or prospective, to join your organisation. 1 further hope that you expect me to retain my right to contract Miywhere and witli anyone, as I have hitherto done, without asking permission of any other section of our suppliers. I think, if you personally were in my position, and had. as you doubtless would have, a knowledge of the business, and desired, if only for the purposes of the busiuess, to retain a reasonable

self-respect, you would act as I am doing. Indeed, I feel that I should under-estimate the characters of the majority of the gentlemen with whom you are associated if I did not believe this of them too. As an influential consulting body, representing a valued portion of our suppliers, I shall be glad to meet you and your friends, and to dis cuss with you in the fullest manner possible all matters of mutual interest. I believe I am as wishful as you can be to see this busiucss on sound satisfactoiy lines for all concerned, and I will use no factious opposition ; but, with a pioper understanding of our relative positions, will seek to give full effect to all reasonable requirements of our clients. I have learned something of the nature of some of the questions which have arisen during my absence, and do not see that there should he any difficulty over them. I find that I can give the more satisfactory replies by referring directly to the tiiioe record* of our busiues.*, and by supplying evidence therefrom. I, therefore, lequest that you, as it representative milk-supplier, with, say, two others of your fellow inilksupp iers, will do me the favour of coming to Auckland, where this information is available, to talk over with me all matters which require consideration, and to give me, and through me the body of milk-suppliers, the help of your counsel. I shall expect to bear the expenses of the deputation to and from their homes, and while engaged here. I am of opinion that my proposal, at least as a preliminary, is a wise one. I im certain that it is made with a desire to meet yon, and everybody for whom you can speak, with courtesy, and with the intention of furthering our mutual interests'. I shall thank you if you will make tins visit at your earliest convenience, and if you can advise me beforehand of subjects upon which you »vill want information. This prior notice need not exclude from consideration any matter which may present ftself during the conference, but it will materially assist, aud will economise time. [MR FISHER TO MR SPRAGG]. October 6th, 189 S.

Dear Sir,—Your letter of the 28th September last, was considered to-day by the Executive of the Waikato Milk Suppliers' Uniftu, and I am instructed to inform you that we shall be most happy to meet you iu conference, but on the distinct understanding, that we do so as representing the Waikato Milk Suppliers' Union. Kindly let me know if this meets with your wishes, and if so I will at once let you know the names of the reprasentatives and the subjects to be discussed. If you could name a time and plpce for the meeting in your reply it would save time.

[ME SPRAGG TO MK FISHER.] October 11th, 1898

Dear Sir,—l have received yours of the 6th inst. Will you allow me to draw your attention "to the contents of mine of the 28th of September, which appear to have escaped your notice. I therein advised you of my inability to use your organisation as a medium between suppliers anil ourselves. I indicated some reasons for the same. I might have increased the number of these reasons, but I assumed that I had offered sufficient, and I desired, at this stage, to avoid saying more than needful, or of saying anything in a manner which should create irritation. I expressly said that I would meet representative milk suppliers, from whom I should expect to learn, and with whom I might take friendly counsel, in the interests of the industry. I must still decline to give any acknowledgement whatever to the organisation constituted, an 1 described by the " rules." If three friends (I suggested yourself and two others) will do me the favour of accepting my invitation, I shall be glad to meet them at my office (for the reasons given) in Auckland at their early convenience, at my expense, as suggested in mine of the 28th ult. [MR FISHER TO MR SPRAGG. ] October 17th, 1898. Dear Sir, —I have to acknowledge your letter of 11th inst., and, in reply, have to say that the reasons you advanced in your letter of 28th September regarding the W.M.S. Union were not overlooked by us, but, being debateable matter, were reserved for the conference, suggested in the latter part of your letter. I shall be sorry if your hostility to the Uniou prohibits the conference, as I believe it would result in a satisfactory understanding between us. The delegates appointed—Messrs Burke, Elmsly, and myself— arc representative milk suppliers, and we shall be happy to meet you in Auckland, as you suggest, but we must come as representatives of the Milk Suppliers' Union. [MR SPRAGG TO MR FISHER ] October 19th, 1898. Dear Sir,—Thanks for your letter of the 17th. The appointments of Messrs Burke and Elmsly, with yourself, as representative milk suppliers to attend a proposed conference are, I think, very suitable ones. It will give me pleasure to meet you. It will be clearly understood that while you undoubtedly have the right to think of yourselves in any capacity you please, I, on my part, shall treat you as representative milk suppliers, and I shall not be committed to an acknowledgement of the Union as described in its rules. I have all along admitted your liberty to think for yourselves, and to deal among yourselves as you think fit. I have exercised a similar right in declining to accept a position, which your present letter properly describes as "debateable," and which your organisation has sought to allot me without my consent and without even consulting me. Now that there can be no misunderstanding, there need Le no further delay. Kindly fix a date to suit your convenience and notify me of the same. Will you also oblige me by notifying me of the matters which you wish to discuss, or to receive information upon. Let me say, very plainly, that I am in no wise hostile to suppliers' unions, as such, but that I take large exception to the assumptions of your organisation as set forth in its rules. Awaiting your early intimation of the date of your proposed visit. [MR FISHER TO MR SPRAGG] October 24th, 1808.

Dear Sir,—l have to thank you for your prompt reply to my letter of the 17th inst. I an. pleased to learn that you are satisfied with the persons named as delegates by the Milk Suppliers' Union, but there is still this difference between us, we can only come as representatives of the Union, and you will not receive us as such. A general meeting of the delegates from the creameries comprising the Union will be held iu a fear days, and if they decide to confer with you on your terms, you will be duly informed, and the subjects for discussion named.

[MR-SI'KAUU TO MR FISHER.] October 27th, 1898

Dear .Sir, —Thanks for your letter of 24th, now just to haul. Jam sorry that I am not at once to meet the gentlemen named in a previous letter. I have expressly said that I shall not seek to pluce you and your friends under any restriction as to the manner in which you may use the information which I can supply; 1 am satisfied that it will be used fairly. I have assumed that we are mutually seekiug for the best means of conducting the business in the interests of all concerned. I have acted upon this understanding, and I shall personally regret if my offer is not entertained by you in the same friendly spirit in which' it is made. I repeat my cordial invitation to the gentlemen named, or to any others that may need to be substituted for them.