COMMODITY COUNCILS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 May 1938, Page 3

COMMODITY COUNCILS

FARMERS’ UNION DISCUSSION. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, May 17. Proposals adopted at the Empire Primary Producers’ Conference at Sydney last month formed the basis of a lengthy debate at the conference of the Auckland provincial branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, which opened at Auckland today. The discussion, which centred round the proposed establishment of commodity councils by the Empire producer organisations, lasted for more than two hours. The debate at several points became heated, and the president, Mr H. O. Mellsop, several times had to call representatives to order. The decision made at the Sydney conference that Empire producing organisations should co-operate to establish commodity councils designed to work for the prevention of avoidable gluts on the London market and the resultant instability of price-levels and speculation was criticised by Mr W. Goodfellow, managing director of Amalgamated Dairies, Ltd. The set-ting-up of such councils, Mr Goodfellow said, would relieve the New Zealand Government of the responsibility of working for the maintenance in London of free and unrestricted markets for New Zealand dairy produce. Replying to Mr Goodfellow, Mr W. W. Mulholland, president of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, who was one of the Dominion delegates to the Sydney conference, said there was no provision made for any commodity council to act as negotiator between Governments. Commodity councils had been planned to regulate supplies from producing countries so that restrictions might be avoided. “I consider,” he said, “that Mr Goodfellow’s apprehensions are unfounded. The recommendations adopted at the Sydney conference were definitely in the interests of our dairy export industry.” Mr Mellsop, .who was also, present at the Sydney conference, supported Mr Mulholland’s contentions. The following motion was carried: “That the ratification by the Auckland branch of the Farmers’ Union of the proposals brought down by the primary producers’ conference shall not be held to attach or apply to any particular industry until or unless that industry shall signify its approval."

Toward the close of the session Mr Goodfellow said' he was sure the proposal to set up a commodity council in London would not be accepted by the dairy industry in New Zealand.