"Counter-productive propaganda”

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32661, 17 July 1971, Page 16

" Counter-productive propaganda”

The member of Parliament for Buller, Mr Rowling, seems determined to shake the confidence of dairy fanners in his electorate in the future of their industry’. In a statement in which he complained of Government “counter-productive propaganda”, Mr Rowling accused the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Marshall, of an “ irresponsible attempt ... to delude “the country at such a critical time”. Calling for the “ necessary reconstruction of our primary “ industries ”, he said it was clear that New Zealand cheese would be “totally phased out after 1978”; and that the uncertain future of butter after that date had become even more uncertain since Mr Heath’s warning that Britain would not be able to give any assurance of exercising a veto on

review arrangements which New Zealand found unsatisfactory.

Fortunately for the morale of his constituents, a very different view of New Zealand’s prospects in the event of Britain’s entry into the E.E.C. was given by the Dairy Board on the same day. The acting chairman, Mr Greenough, said the results of the negotiations were “ as good as New Zealand had “any right to expect”. There was no occasion for jubilation; nor was there any cause for gloom. It should not be forgotten that Britain had not been a growth market for New Zealand, that the E.E.C. negotiations had not caught the industry unprepared, or that the value of New Zealand dairy sales outside the United Kingdom was now more than $lOO million a year, he said. “ The plain fact is that we need more milk ”, Mr Greenough said. For the next three years, at least cheese production would need to be kept at roughly the present level. “ There is no need for talk “ of a wholesale phasing-out of our dairy industry. “There are good prospects for varieties of cheese “ outside the United Kingdom, not only in Japan but “ in other markets where European subsidised exports “have been going. ... We must plan now in the “ expectation that Britain will enter the Common “ Market, even though the final political decisions “ have yet to be taken ”. Buller dairy farmers should ask themselves which of these speakers carries the more weight of authority on the dairy industry’s problems—and which is the more likely to allow his views to be coloured by hopes of political advantage.

Unfortunately, Mr Rowling, as president of the New Zealand Labour Party, is assured of a wide audience whenever he speaks on a national issue. He might even have been reported on this occasion in the United Kingdom, where the British Labour Party will hold a special conference today on whether to support British entry to the E.E.C. Such timely criticism by a New Zealand comrade of Mr Rippon’s terms of entry would surely encourage the anti-Marketeers in the British Labour movement Is Mr Rowling hoping to influence the decision of today’s conference? Does he want to keep Britain out of the Common Market? Does he think that would be in the best interests of New Zealand, or the New Zealand dairy industry, or his own constituents?

If the answers to these questions are in the affirmative, and if Britain’s present bid for entry to the Common Market should be foiled, Mr Rowling might have a lot to answer for. Forced to rely in the future, as in the past, on a static British market, the Dairy Board might well conclude that the New Zealand dairy industry would have been better off had Britain accepted Mr Rippon’s terms. In that event Mr Rowling’s latest propaganda would indeed prove to have been counter-productive.

Old school burnt ; The former school at Jacksons was burned down onii Thursday, together with ah large area of scrub nearby. J The building had not been I: used for about nine years, ii and had served as a store- ! 1 house and hive shelter for ah Greymouth beekeeper. Theh Otira Volunteer Fire Brigade ’ travelled 12 miles to the i scene, but found the building: i completely burnt. It was able, 11 however, to save a nearbv 1 shed in the burning scrub (F.0.0.R.) I-

Beekeepers’ officers Mr B. W. Forsyth, of Ohaupo, was re-elected president of the National Beekeepers’ Association at the annual meeting in Greymouth. Mr I. Dickson, of Milton, was elected vice-pre-I sident. The two North Island I members of rhe executive are Mr F. J. Whalley (Wanganui), and Mr R. Jansen • (Taupo), and the South Island 'executive members are Mr 'F. Bartrum. of Pleasant Point, and Mr M. Cloake, of ' Timaru.—(P.A.).