PREMIER’S REPLY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 21, 5 November 1940, Page 3

PREMIER’S REPLY

DAIRYMEN’S RESOLUTION. GOVERNMENT NOT IMPRESSED.

(Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, November 4. A letter was sent to the New Zealand Dairy Board to-day by the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser), in reply to one he received from the board a few days ago, conveying to him two resolutions carried at the Dominion dairy conference last week. The text of Mr Fraser’s letter, which is addressed to the secretary of the board (Mr C. ,H. Courtney) is: “I have to acknowledge receipt ol" your letter of October 31, forwarding certain resolutions carried at the annual Dominion dairy conference. Please convey to the delegates the thanks of the Government for the resolution, in which representatives of the industry here assembled pledge themselves to do their utmost to secure maximum production, and to make the greatest contribution possible to this country’s war effort. I feel personally that this resolution embodies the will and spirit of

the primary producers of the Dominion, whose contribution to the country’s war effort has been so highly creditable. “In regard to the other resolution, it is inevitable that it must be considered in the light of the peculiar and unique conceptions and standards of controversial ethics, methods, and fair dealing adopted by those responsible for the management of the conference proceedings in regard to the reception extended to my colleague, the Hon. W. Nash, who attended as an invited guest. In acknowledging this resolution, I would like it to be distinctly understood that while any representations from a responsible organisation of primary producers will always receive the close and careful attention of my colleagues and myself, an attempt to single out the Minister for Marketing for personal attack completely fails to impress the Government, and proceedings at the conference m Wednesday last strengthen and increase, if that were possible, our confidence in him and our admiration for his ability, efficiency, integrity, sincerity and courage, as well as for bis wholehearted devotion to the duties of his responsible office, including* the work of furthering the Government’s proposals for guaranteeing a fair standard of living to all useful people in town and country engaged in primary and secondary industries, and in all other occupations.” The Dairy Conference carried the following resolutions last Thursday: “That this Dominion conference of

the dairy industry considers the replies and attitude of the Minister for Marketing (the Hon. W. Nash) at the conference yesterday to be entirely unsatisfactory, and expresses its deep disappointment with the Minister’s failure to meet specific undertakings to the industry to pay a price which would cover the costs of production or to carry into effect the principles laid down in Section 20 of the Primary Products Marketing Act, 1936. This industry is smarting under a. sense of injustice, because it is being asked, for the third season in succession, to accept the same fixed price and also to carry added costs due to increases granted to other sections of the community. “After negotiations with the Minister for Marketing extending, over several years, this confereiice desires to convey to the Prime Minister its complete lack of confidence in the Hon. W. Nash, as we are of opinion he is unsympathetic to producers and fails to understand their problems and position.”

PROCEDURE AT CONFERENCE. COMMENT BY MR NASH.

AUCKLAND, November 4. The Minister for Marketing (the Hon. W. Nash), who arrived from Wellington to-day, told an interviewer that he could not understand the procedure of the Dairy Conference, which invited him tp speak and condemned him before he arrived at the meeting. The Minister emphasised that in June last representatives of the industry came to his office and said that if it were possible to stabilise costs and prices, then they felt they should not ask for a further increase in the guaranteed price. A difference of opinion had resolved itself into opposition by the Dairy Conference to the increase of 5 per cent, granted as a cost oi living bonus to wage and salary earners throughout the Dominion.