A SIXES-AND-SEVENS BOARD.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 122, 25 May 1928, Page 6

A SIXES-AND-SEVENS BOARD.

Judging by the proceedings at this week's meeting of the Dairy Produce Board, that body is well-nigh Useless, and may be decidedly harmful. The resignation of Mr. Goodfellow may lessen the friction by removing an opponent of the chairman, but the price is the loss of the foremost figure in the New Zealand butter world, who probably knows more about the business of making and selling than the rest of the members put together. Even without Mr. Goodfellow it is doubtful if the Board can carry on with any T thing approaching unanimity. One member said at the meeting that there was an impression in the country that members were quarrelling among themselves, and the chairman replied by asking if the Board had not been at loggerheads through this season. In view of the chairman's peculiar ideas about his rights as a mouthpiece of the Board in issuing statements to the public, it is riot surprising that there should be such differences. Mr. Goodfellow, however, did not resign on account of this alone. He savs his position had become almost untenable, and declares the Board to be "an utter farce." In his opinion it is too big, and its expenditure is far too high. When a man of Mr. Goodfellow's standing refers to the Board's organisation as "extravagant and useless" —as he does in this morning l 's paper—the producer must take notice. If the constitution of the Board is to remain as it is, there should be changes in the personnel to ensure some measure of agreement. The best plan, however, would be to abolish the Board as a separate entity and set up one organisation to look after meat and dairy produce. The Meat Board has done good work in a quiet way, and there is a perfectly legitimate field for similar activity in the dairying industry. Why not put both industries under the direction of one carefully balanced Board, which would apportion space, watch freight and insurance rates, control all publicity, and generally advance our interests in Britain?