THE AGRICULTURE BILL

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21320, 13 November 1934, Page 12

THE AGRICULTURE BILL

* WARD CONFERENCE AT GREYMOUTH FARMERS APPOINT DELEGATE (SPECIAL TO THI TRESS.) GREYMOUTH, November 12. A conference of West Coast dairy producers was held in Greymouth today Mr C. P. Agar, of Christchurch, a member of the New Zealand Dairy Control Board for the northern ward district (South Island), presiding over a small attendance. On declaring the ward conference open, Mr Agar explained the procedure, slating that the meeting was convened to test the local feeling and viewpoint towards matters affecting the industry, and then to elect a delegate or delegates to form part of the Dominion conference at which the board's annual report will be submitted for consideration. "Ward conferences should be free from any recommendations from the Dairv Board." said Mr Agar, "and should be kept perfectly clear of what may be termed 'dairy politics,' if they are to serve any useful purpose to the industry. It is by a free and unfettered examination of the affairs of the industry by the directors of dairy companies and suppliers that we gain the industry's real viewpoint, and therefore as a ward representative on the Dairy Board I shall not endeavour to influence the decisions of this conference, but shall content myself with stating the events of moment which have occurred since our last meetings. _ Mr Agar outlined the Dairy Commission's recommendations, and said that whether the quality of New Zealand s dairy produce was improved or remained as at present, he felt convinced that as long as New Zealand sent forward the quantities it did. and other countries continued to do likewise, then the price would still be determined by the quantities to be marketed, and would not be substantially affected by any improvement in quality. "Admittedly •we desire to displace Danish butter in the Midlands and the Northern Counties of England—its present stronghold"—said Mr Agar, "but my personal belief is that our present quality is sufficiently high to do this if we are able to overcome the prejudice which undoubtedly exists in these counties in favour of the Danish article."

There were proposals for the improvement of the financial position of dairy farmers, said Mr Agar, but these were submitted in a tentative form only, and were not sufficiently far advanced to be seriously considered. The question of herd testing and dairy farm instruction were minor matters as related to the major proposals, but he was sure that the Dominion conference would appreciate an expression of opinion from West Coast farmers on these matters.

Mr P. O'Regan, Inangahua Landing, was appointed delegate for the West Coast to attend Ihe wards conference to be held at Wellington.

GOVERNMENT CONGRATULATED (PIIB3S ASSOCIATION MLIGEAU.) TE AWAMUTU, November 12. A meeting of the directors of the Te Awamutu Co-operative Dairy Company, Ltd., to-day passed a unanimous resolution congratulating the Government on the passing of the Agriculture (Emergency Powers) Bill, as a first step toward the reorganisation of the dairy industry and the rehabilitation of the financial position of dairy farmers.