DAIRY EXPORTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 21, 25 January 1934, Page 10

DAIRY EXPORTS.

BOARD'S NEW SCHEME. SOUTHLAND OBJECTIONS. DANGER OF CONTROL. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) INVEBCARGILL, this day. Vigorous objections to the application of the Dairy Board's new regulations concerning f.o.b. sales and the reduction in the number of selling agents in Britain were heard by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, when he met a deputation representing the majority of dairy companies on the Southland western plains yesterday. The Prime Minister undertook to inform the Hon. C. E. Macmillan, Minister of Agriculture, whose consent is necessary before the regulations are applied, that Southland companies were not yet convinced of the wisdom of the new regulations, and wished to place the disadvantages of the new system before him before he consented to the new conditions. The'representatives of the companies concerned asked that a Parliamentary Committee' be set up next session to hear both sides of the case before any action was taken. It was believed by the companies that if the new regulations were applied it would detrimentally affect the industry. The new regulations practically meant that control was to be again instituted, and the deputation predicted disastrous results to the industry if that came about.

Tie Prim© Minister pointed out that the Minister of Agriculture had stated he would require more information concerning the scheme "before he gave his consent. The chairman of the DairyBoard had recently visited Southland, and, judging by the receptions he had been given, it seemed he had convinced the companies that the scheme was desirable. Hence it was a surprise to the speaker to find that objections remained. Mr. Forbes admitted he wa3 not clear as to the reasons for the changes desired by the board. He knew the disastrous results which had attended the board's previous scheme to fix prices, and he believed New Zealand should not do anything which would jeopardise the good will which at present existed towards New Zealand in the butter industry in Britain. It was a very difficult thing to try and bring, about the restriction of a number Of agents, for it was liable to cause resentment among those who were excluded. In view of the objections raised, ho j would approach the Minister of Agriculture on. the lines indicated.