CO-OPERATION URGED

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21808, 13 June 1936, Page 16

CO-OPERATION URGED

FARMERS AND THE GOVERNMENT MARKETING PLANS “NOT AGAINST INTERESTS OP PRODUCERS” fTHB PRESS SpecUl Service.] DUNEDIN, June 12. Co-operation with the. Government in its marketing proposals is urged upon the farmers by the directors of the South Island Dairy Association in their annual report. “It appears to be the general belief that the farmers were responsible more than any other section of the community for electing the present Government, and that the promise of guaranteed prices was an influencing factor," the report says. “We are not in a position to say definitely whether that is a correct assumption, but we do know that very few dairy farmers realised that the putting into effect of the policy of guaranteed prices meant that they would lose the right to dispose of their produce as they thought fit. Nevertheless, we do not propose to condemn the Government’s action. We believe that it is sincere in its expressed desire to better the conditions of the people engaged in the industry, and we think that all dairy farmers should co-operate with the Government to the fullest extent in an endeavour to make its policy successful. “Attempts are being made to belittle the Government’s marketing plan. We have given the matter our most earnest consideration, and have reached the conclusion that there hs nothing in the Government’s proposals which is opposed to the producers’ interests. Provided the Government’s Marketing Department can obtain the co-operation of the distributors of our produce in Britain—and we can see no reason to doubt that it will—the results should be greatly to the advantage of the producers and, incidentally, to the country as a whole.”

EXCEPTION TAKEN

ACTIVITIES OF FARMERS’ PRESIDENT ',V :u:-a ASSOmriOX TELEOiUii.) GREYMOUTH, June 12. The West Coast branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, at its annual conference to-day, discussed two remits about the political activities of the Dominion president, Mr W. J. Poison, M.P., and unanimously adopted a remit as follows: — “That this conference takes exception to the president of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union introducing party politics in union affairs. Also, it holds that no member of Parliament should be eligible for office as Dominion president.” It was also decided to recommend to the Government that in framing the guaranteed-price plan it should see that f, ctories having considerable expense, in sending butter to grading stores be not penalised. It was decided to oppose the Hon. F. Waite's proposal to permit the Dominion president, on his retirement, to remain in the Dominion executive.