THE AGRICULTURE BILL

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21324, 17 November 1934, Page 20

THE AGRICULTURE BILL

WARD CONFERENCE AT TEMUKA A DELEGATE APPOINTED Matters of importance to dairy farmers were discussed at a meeting of dairy factory directors and suppliers held in Temuka yesterday afternoon. The principal speakers were Messrs W. Dynes Fulton (deputy-chairman of the Dairy Control Board), T. C. Brash (secretary), and W. Lee (member for the southern district). Among the factories represented at the meeting were Ashburton, Clandeboye, Cloverlea, Orari, Waimate, Milford, and Geraldine. Mr Lee, who occupied the chair, said that for more than half a century the dairymen through various bodies elected by themselves, had controlled their own affairs, and they could well feel proud of what had been accomplished. Through changing world conditions, and also to give effect to the recommendations of the commission, it had been decreed that the future of the dairy industry must endure a larger measure of Government control. The Aprieulture Bill was now law, and in order to allow the Government a fanchance to prove the sincerity of its intention to help the industry, he would earnestly advise dairymen to co-operate in a friendly spirit with the new board and the Government in the efforts to rehabilitate the industry. Mr Fulton detailed the events leading up to the setting up of the Dairy Commisison. Among the things he had strongly objected to was the composition of the proposed board, as it would give the Government nominees the majority. He had headed a deputation from Waikato to wait on the Government, and subsequently the conditions were modified to three nominees fro mthe Government and four representatives from the producers, with the right to elect their own chairman. Mr Coates had spoken of the altered world conditions of commerce and of trying to create mutual trading with America, Germany, and with the East. He had suggested the setting up of a council of three to visit these countries to ascertain the position and to make suggestions to the Government. Personally, he felt justified in asking that one member of this council should be a member of the Dairy Board. To a question, Mr Fulton said that if the Dairy Board had been allowed to do what it intended to do years ago, the industry would not be where it was to-day. They would by now have had powerfully established markets and would have been working in harmony with the importers. The present position was due to failure on their own part—failure to be true to each other: they were not loyal; they did not co-operate. At this juncture Mr Brash said that when the board first started butter was selling at 1365. During the next year the butter rose and sold at 1455, and in addition New Zealand sold 8000 tons f.o.b. to Canada at 10s more than the price ruling at Home. Obviously one could not blame the board for the fall of prices. Mr J. Donnehue moved and Mr H. H. Meredith seconded: "That this meeting of South Canterbury dairy producers, while keenly anxious to assist the Government to solve the difficulties of the Dairy Board, would strongly urge that in setting up the Executive Commission the act should be so altered that the producers' representatives should be nominee of the Dairy Board and the Meat Board respectively." On a show of hands the motion was carried by a large majority. By ballot the meeting elected Mr S. R. Muff, of Orari, as the delegate for the No. 8 Ward to attend the annual dairy conference on December 13 and 14.