DAIRY CONTROL.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18631, 4 March 1926, Page 14

DAIRY CONTROL.

MEETING AT RANGIORA. ADDRESS BY MR W. GROUNDS-. Approximately. 100 dairy farmers from all parts of North Canterbury gathered in the Agricultural Hall, at Eangiora, last night, when an address •was, given by Mr W. Grounds, Chairman of the Dairy Control feoard. Mr Grounds spoke for about two hours on the Board's policy. Mr W. Stalker presided. The chairman said that it was the dairy farmers to whom Mr Grounds wanted to talk, and he was pleased to see that the dairy farmers were there in full force. There was a certain amount of opposition io absolute control in the Kangiora district, and the large attendance. showed the .keen interest that was being taken in,the meeting. Mr Grounds said that the Board recognised that it was necessary for every farmer to know the point of view o£ the Board. Controversy on the subject of control .had raged years ago. An exhaustive investigation into the position had been made. The Board took no action until it had satisfied itself on all aspects of the position, and then decided* on absolute control. The limited., control provided in the Act was inadequate to properly handle' the produce. MisimderstandiEg. A good deal of misunderstanding had arisen regarding absolute control. A controversial point hinged on the election of the Board, but this had nothing to do with the actions of the Board. No one had expressed any approval of. the present" system ©£ election—-3 members for the South Island, and 6 for tße North Island. Through the active investigation into shipping that was being made, by the Board, a'great improvement had been made. The Board was-supemely . anxious to render service to the ' industry. . Criticisms that, they, had met had been strangely contradictory. Tbe Board was not 'functioning as a marketing organisation at- the present time. They had no power to direct phipnients themselves. ■ They had been criticised by the merchant interests throughout , the »country. ''l don't blame them- the least bit. "Wherever there has been any suggestion of improvement- of method there has. been a display of criticism and resentment. Where see a prospect of their beim; displaced there will always be criticism and resentment. Earlv in Janu-arv-certain 'interests in London were taking down'the butter prices to 130s. This' year the f.o.b. prices showed promise of' being better 'than consignment prices. Tho Board had come to absolute control . would not give them th^'necessary v control. llie Board recognised the necessity of /saying Jthe, last ,word. an :to .whether produce should he put on the market or not/. It had been -suggested that the Board 'intended ""to- take the authority from the individual producer. Could the .individual factory do better than n -consolidated arrangement P If the Boivrd b«»d not strongly put forward its r»olioy tho daijrv industry would hare . beeminithe It was essential to push on nud finahivo .the-.matter.. They should effective force in arranging how orodnce should be put upon the market. I - Nothing Against Proposals. * Xoiw-of tjierhis;'bankers, to whom thfc"Board'# policy had been outlined, couia- 'advance - any reason against the the Bdard proposed- to take. Theydid not claim to be able to estababsolutely faultless system, hut rarjrinp «&xperienes fl'orn" year _to year woSbld as to maintain a fair foi' the producer. It was not ir.tjWdpd to. interfere with the ordinary'channels of distribution. Tho" rnerchinfes} knew';the volume of the produce that «;onld tor available next year, and they siob be subjected to all sorts of-.vagaries. Tlie allocation was on the boiis of the-average for the last three veafe 'and there would be no break in the' -goodwill ' of the different, brands ot ififcwuc© ■ going on to the market. 'there lie anythinj? more fair to thssdiistrib ntbr ?. Decidedly• not! ; * -When the Board's policy was first iwftfSuiieed a good deal of humbug was talked; Afc'.'the present timrthe money was'available on 'shipment. The Board s Tv>Uey'wn*» ,tb. make the money availnUe 011' store shipment*. 'Hie London jigaicy would-He in touch with the disti'Kijtiirs all the time. The central office would serve »s a clearing house f'.r-information. Th§ Board did not think for a moment that it - would he iYeo ;from competition. Tlvey wonld rnpH\ the legitimate competition from ■oth'W Countries, but nob in competition within; themselves. : r . lmprovad Quality. ! livery country wainow concentrating j onptoproVed quality and it was nec#ssarijpito seiß. :that the producer received ' a -jsjrlce commeaßurate with that high qualHy. '. The Government had dispatched an officer ;to check up the grsittesjin London. Recently grade !butter had been receiving '2os to '22& per hundredweight less than the first grade. Seoond grade stuff from New Zealand'was not wanted in Great Dritain. New Zealand must coiioentrftift on sending'a first grade article. Tftera had been a suggestion that the control ■ would "hoc ctrtho- into force. There was an to create doubt misgiving in the miuds of-the producers! throughout the country. The control poljcy would come into action in August, next. .''Aa a member of the Board, I say that the members are not at' all concerned about, the retention ■< of their position, provided that they know that tha industry will b® advanced. • - Questions Asked. At:the conclusion of the address re any r questions . wore asked and anMr C. ; P. Agar: How does Mr Grounds expect to control the produce without being ia » position to control the , , . Mr Grounds: .The- Board is satisfied thait there are innumerable avenues in New Zealand that hard never been opened np, and which would provide finance■ if-? the- Board so desired, Mr L. Hansen remarked that there wej&B 16 factories, outside the control. In rfeplyine to .another question, Mr Grounds said that the Board would not resign unless the Act provided for su«h - resignation.' In reply to Mr H. E. Ferryman, Mr Grounds said that' the payments to the factories would be* as" readily available as they were now* ; to Qownxiiient, Mr :W. Watson moved: "That the dairy farmers ask .the Government,to stay the hand of the Control Board from taking complete control of oar produce, as the timo is not opportune." Mr D. W. L, Mehrtens moved an! amendment • that & hearty vote of thanks be .given to the speaker, and ilfio - confidence in the Dairy Control - Bds rd. . - Or. the suggestion of the chairman, Mr Mehrtens agreed to delete the latter pas* of bis motion and allow it to stand vote of thanks. . - ■ .On 'a show of bands Mr Watson's nxdaott, which was seconded -by Mr BL E. rerjiasa, was carried. of Utftuka was passed by aa-