DAIRY PRICES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 268, 12 November 1935, Page 10

DAIRY PRICES.

CONTROL BY BOARD

MR. COATES' STATEMENT, ANSWER BY MR. GKo^ (By Telegraph—Own WHANGAEEI, this day At his meeting at Paparoa last J* Mr. W. Grounds (Independent cand£ for Kaipara) refuted the statementinal by the Minister of Finance, Mr. Coat at his Marohemo meeting "For the purpose of side-trackine«, mam issues, distractions have Sμ brought into this election. T <>„, . willing to let the past bury its H and concentrate on present-dav w lenis," eaicl Mr. Grounds. pi * "One of the questions raised i. n desirability or otherwise of the «b ■ taken by the Dairy Control Board? adopt a price fixation scheme f or (? English market. Delegates sent to &T land, found disabilities inimical- to fl producers of this country 'beinw carrirf out there. We recommended that V«» Zealand follow the lead of other cm tries in adopting a scheme of J» fixation. The board agreed to f(E the suggestion, the board fixing the trite for that particular date. " ™ Prices Soon Raised. "The scheme was brought into open tion on November 26, 1926, when £ butter was selling at 150/, and 'afar three weeks we found we could raise prices. The board arranged to raise the price and as the agents eelnW tlj butter kept the board informed of their sales, the board was able to see whether sales were equal to the inflow to Net Zealand. Our first job was to sell th butter and the second was to get tit best price possible. The final result was that on November 25 we were silt to raise prices. On December 6 the price for finest was raised to 176/ ajj all butter was sold to distributors. "Mr. Coates has said that Took Street did not trust me. I regret that the statement has been made, add I feel sure that this newspaper cutting will dispel any doubt electors may htn in that direction." Mr. Grounds then read the following extract from an Auckland paper: "Mr, Grounds came to England to try inj placate the opposition, and in. his task used all the force of his personality, and although he failed, he retained Toofe Street's high esteem and regard." With regard to the statement thatlt had lost the confidence of the producers, Mr. Grounds said he not interested in entering into such questions, but h knew that ho was removed from tie Dairy Board because he would not accept the Government's domination of.tit board. 9 "Mercantile Propaganda." : Mr. Grounds said that the propaganda directed by mercantile interests iu! undermined the spirit of co-operatioi among dairy factory directors, and u a result they had lost touch with their suppliers. The assertions with regarl to the I/ondon incidents, Mr.. Gratis alleged, were made by Messrs. lons and Patterson, who associated with mercantile interests in breaking down tk board. "Mr. Coates has said we were staying at the same hotel," said Mr. Grouidi "I would like to point.out that there is a vast difference between hotels in Enjland and in New Zealand. During the three months I was in London I new saw Mr. Coates in one of the public rooms of the hotel. A Prime Minister in England is protected from the public gaze by hie retinue, and the suggesting that w*e were in the same hotel ism* leading, to say the least." Extracts From Journal Mr. Grounds then read an extrstt from the "Exporter," of March, 1927, in which he wrote: "I did n'ot meet Mi Coates to discuss the position until 1* had met the deputation which « arranged to meet without consulting*! or Messrs. Motion and TVright. I»J letter I wrote to V.m regarding v deputation remained unanswered, «M when I asked him about it he said* had asked the deputation whether tlif wanted me to be present." Mr. Grounds commented: As if tKJ would want me to be there. Mr. Grounds then read from S» "Exporter" of 3027: "Mr. Patterson! cable was sent to' New Zealand «m he consulted with Messrs Groin* Motion and Wright. Mr. Coates M caused to be inserted the words watt* message was sent with the cogniaw of the Prime Minister, who req» you to hand a ropy immediately to t» Acting-Prime Minister." "No challenge," concluded Mr. Grop* "has ever been issued as to the corretj ness of what I wrote in the 'E\P° rt * I shall leave the country and the F ducers to judge as to whose wortiß , be taken."