DAIRY CONTROL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 277, 22 November 1934, Page 17

DAIRY CONTROL.

MORE OPPOSITION.

IMMEDIATE SUBSIDY WANTED

NORTH AUCKLAND VIEWS. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WHANG AREI, this day. A strong attack on the report of the Dairy Commission was niu.de by Mr. W. Grounds, speaking at the conference of No. 1 Ward of the Dairy Board yesterday. To those who had been making representations for the elevation of the industry the report was disappointing, lie said, in that the mind of the commission had got out of focus, and this had led to false conclusions and misguided recommendations. The predominant conclusion was that the industry was seriously sick, but he could not help but conclude that the commission was prescribing for the wrong case.

Many of the requests made by the industry had beeiy approved by the commission, but in these requests there was 110 indication that the industry was sick and that it needed a receiver or manager to run its affairs.

Air. Grounds dealt at length with the commission's findings, pointing out what he termed "contradictions and inconsistencies." He suggested that there was subterfuge in connection with the legislation. "The constant reference to enabling legislation," he said, "makes it look as though the only object is to clear away undesirable features, so that sometiling can be done. The real fact is that the legislation is vital, providing for giving power to the 'big three' when appointed, to put into operation the com mission's findings. " Not Opposition to Britain." "It has been claimed that the nonacceptance of the idea of restriction is opposition to Britain," said Mr. Grounds. "I definitely refute any such inference. The idea is one towards de-civilisation, and in that light we should implore Britain, whom we love, and who lias done so much to bring about the highest in civilisation, to look upon quotas as a peril.

"I believe quite definitely that Dr. Campbell could have written the vital summary of the important recommendations in this report last April. I am not suggesting any occult or clairvoyant powers in him in making that statement," said Air. Grounds, as he concluded his address. Two hours were taken up in questioning Air. Grounds. " Subsidy to Cover Running Costs." Later in the meeting methods for alleviating the plight of dairy farmers were discussed at length. A motion that the Government be asked to guarantee farmers IOJd per lb for butter and a commensurate amount for cheese, until such time as the proposed legislation for the alleviation of the debt and mortgage position becomes effective was defeated, but the meeting approved an amendment. proposed by Air. E. R. Bird (Kaitaia): "That a subsidy be requested from the Government covering running costs of the average dairy farms and providing a reasonable standard of living to farmers, this relief to apply from the commencement of the present season and to operate until the price level rises above the level agreed on as a minimum necessity."

A further motion carried was: "That this meeting protests against the passing of legislation providing for the establishment of an over-riding Council of Production and Trade." It was also resolved that in the event of it being felt dcnirable to establish a co-ordinating board , more effectively to organise the export of New Zealand produce, the major producing board should be represented on that body by a producers' representative nominated by the board.

A motion, "that this meeting reaffirm the principle that in any rcconstitution of the Dairy Produce Board, 75 per cent of* the members should be producers' representatives," was considered, but an amendment that the producprs' representation should be 100 per cent was carried. Strongly Opposed to Quota. There was no objection to a motion moved by Air. Alichic (Kaitaia), which was carried, and reads: "That this conference place on record its most vigorous opposition to the proposals in circulation which advocate or imply quantitivc restriction under the designation of planned production, etc. It is the opinion of this conference that there should be a thorough overhaul of the

present conditions governing distribution and consumption of our primary products, with the object of making these products readily available to those who require them and have the goods and services to tiffer us in return."

Alcssrs. F. Cullen (Alaungaturoto), E. G. Appleton (Northern Wairoa) and W. Wallace (lUiawai) were elected to represent No. 1 ward at the ward conference to be held in Wellington next month.