THEN AND NOW

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20511, 30 May 1938, Page 4

THEN AND NOW

The Minister of Marketing is to address the National Dairy Conference in New Plymouth ne&t month, and it is to be hoped that — unless he chooses to discharge the duty before then—he will explain in detail the effects of the promise made by the Prime Minister with regard to any credit balance in the Dairy Industry Account. It so happens that Mr Nash addressed -the conference held in Hawke’s Bay two years ago, and he outlined the purposes of the legislation. “One great object we set out to achieve,” he said, “was the removal for all time of the fear of price falls and the ecstacies of price rises.” Would he still contend that that is possible under the latest development? To the layman it would seem clear that that objective cannot be reached and that must make it impossible for the Minister to attain other goals, such as the stabilisation of land prices. There can be no doubt at all that the Ministry has abandoned its former position. A Wellington paper has drawn attention to a question and answer, recorded in the official report of the dairy conference specially called in Wellington at which Mr Nash reviewed the Government’s plans, and at a later stage answered many questions. Some had been prepared by the conference and others were asked by individual delegates. The question and answer were as follows: Mr Seifert (Morrinsville) asked whether any surplus in the dairy industry account would be refunded direct to dairy farmers. Mr Nash: No. If there is a balance the Government will not touch it for itself. It will discuss how it will be handled for the benefit of the industry. It is clear that the definite refusal then has been changed into acceptance now. The Minister and his advisers are at present devising a method for the distribution of any surplus in the account among the producers, and there will be no need for any discussion, provided the method adopted is equitable. It cannot be held that the scheme as it now exists is one of stabilisation. The Minister was reported to have told a gathering at Stratford that surpluses would constitute a reserve against lean years. That obviously cannot now be put into operation. The abandonment of State control of marketing the produce would be very much against the principles of the Government, but it should now reconsider the whole plan. Possibly the conference at New Plymouth could give him a lead with regard to the views and desires of those engaged in the industry, and if a system which would give the producers control of the marketing of their own produce should be favoured the Minister should not reject it hastily. Much if not all that he had anticipated would follow the establishment of the scheme is now impossible, but the system of marketing through one channel remains and has long been favoured by a large section of the producers. If the Government, instead of trying to hold to the remnants of a theory, which has proved impracticable in operation, were to face the position boldly, and hand the control of marketing back to the industry it would escape further difficulties.