LABOUR POLICY.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 91, 19 April 1927, Page 9

LABOUR POLICY.

STRUGGLING FARMERS. '"'.RELIEF URGENTLY NEEDED." ■SUPPORT FOR DAIRY BOARD. N APIER, Monday. The views of the labour party in relation to the subject of dairy produce control are set out in the annual report of the natiopal executive, presented to the New Zealand Conference of the party in ' Napier to-day. The executive states that the situation can only be saved by closer co-ordination with the co-operative distributing organisations in Great Britain. The time is ripe for negotiations with the British Government for the establishment of a food-purchasing council through which the produce of the New Zealand farmer can be transferred to the consumer. The alternative is a continuance of the present system under which the competency of the farmer, the richness of the soil, the efficient and scientific manufacture of our products and the spirit of co-operation in production and manufacture will all be nullified and rendered of no avail if the price at which the farmer can sell his product is left to the machinations of able and skilful manipulators whose sphere is neither production Dor distribution, but who live on scheming out the most effective means of exploit .ug the needs of both the producer ind the consumer. '.^. ur Parliamentary party is of the opinion that relief is urgently needed if the struggling dairy farmers are to be snabled to function," continues the executive. "Some more fortunate than others may be able to carry on, but the main work of the party is not to provide crutches to enable the farmer to walk under existing conditions, but to prepare conditions so that the crutches niav be discarded. If the Dairy Board refuses to allow speculators to dictate its policy or to be influenced by an ill-informed Minister then it can go ahead with confidence. The objective of the board is to get the produce to the consumer with the least possible waste in transmission. If the present Government will not help, then it our duty, in co-operation with the British Labour party, to find ways and means whereby the produce of New Zeapastures can reach the tables of the ntish people in good condition and at a price which will ensure a reasonable return to the producer without exploiting tile consumer.*'