DAIRY CONTROL

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 223, 21 June 1928, Page 10

DAIRY CONTROL

DISSENSION ON BOARD

RESIGNATION OF MR. W. GOODFELLOW

ADDRESS BY MR. W. GROUNDS

Dominion Special Service Palmerston North, June 20. Happenings on the Dairy Control Board and the recent resignation af Mr. IV. Goodfellow from it were rei ferred to by the chairman of the board, Mr. IV. Grounds, when addressing delegates to the annual conference of the National Dairy Association at Palmerston North to-day. The activities of the board and its efforts on behalf of the industry were defended by Mr. Grounds, who was accorded a hearty vote of thanks'at the conclusion of his address. A resolution expressing confidence in the board was defeat ed by the meeting. “I fully realise,” said Mr. Grounds, "the responsibility lam carrying at the moment, and the interest the industry will feel in what I have to say. I am not elated or depressed, but will stand up to my responsibility. The Dairy Control Board has been the butt of many .shafts—barbed, poisonous, and innocuous—from all sorts of quarters, outside and in. We have been examined from all quarters according to the composition of the critic. Consequently, we are looked upon as being very composite in character. I believe, however, that the board has very much good work yet to do in the interest lof the industry. Mr. Grounds said j that, while the clash of personalities that had been occasioned might distract attention and lead to the thought that the dissension was but a personal quarrel, the causes were much deeper. Mr. Grounds then proceeded to outline some of the operations of the board, which, he said, had negotiated two contracts (luring the past six years, and which had been responsible for a reduction in shipping freights. It was stated by Mr Grounds that when the balance-sheet was circulated next month it would be seen that the levy was reduced by £32.000. There would be sums on the balancesheet that was expenditure in connection with cleaning up of the control policy last year. Several sums, however, would be nonrecurring. "The Root of the Trouble.” The resignation of Mr W. Goodfellow from the Dairy Control Board at the May meeting in Wellington, was then referred to by Mr Grounds. “Mr Goodfellow’s resignation,” said MiGrounds, “was by no means the cause of the crisis being precipitated. I would suggest that it was one of its culminating points.”. Last year at the concerence of the National Dairy ' Association, at Rotorua, he indicated | the probability of that development that had taken place, and in his reviews in the “Exporter he had made veiled references 'to the possibilities. Mr Grounds then proceeded to refer to statements that had appeared in the Press from Mr Goodfellow and himself after Mr Goodfellow’s resig- | nation at the last board meeting. He also referred to a circular that, had been circulated by the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company. Mr Goodfellow had said the Board was too expensive, said the speaker. An effort was being made by other marketing concerns to stultify the work of the board. Circumstances had made it impossible for (lie board to carry ou witii t.'ie original policy. There had been the suggestion that the board be reduced to six members. It was probably considered that greater control could be thus secured over the board by Waikato interests, in the hope that they might elect two out of the six .members. They wanted a producers’ board. To give more power to outside interests, he considered, would be the height of futility, and a proposal that would' not bo supported by the industry.

Chairman’s Reviews in “Exporter.” Mr. Grounds proceeded to state that there was not one word in the review in the “Exnorter” to which exception had been taken to, that he wished to withdraw. He went on to say that he had advocated that the board should undertake the marketing for those compan-. ies who wished the board to do so, and he was still convinced that such was a sound policy, and further, it was one he still advocated. He submitted that the board nad proved last year that it could handle f.o.b. sales with Letter advantage to factories who desired it than 1 factories could themselves. The same could be said of sales on consignment basis. Those who were declaring that the board was too expensive were more or less responsible. The charge of the board being too expensive collapsed on investigation of the facts. Mr. Grounds said that it would be quite clear that a company just established should not approve of the board's policy. It was stated by Mr. Grounds that when Mr. Goodfellow returned from England last year the latter had given a statement to the Press to be set up in type in readiness for printing. This statement, said Mr. Grounds, contained Mr. Goodfellow's mature reflections on his return. It was alleged by Mr. Grounds that at the last minute, before the statement appeared, that certain excisions had been made and other paragraphs inserted in their stead. Mr. Grounds read a lengthy paragraph which he said appeared in the original statement. This declared that the Government had wrecked the producers and cost them thousands of pounds. Mr. Grounds declared that the paragraph condemning the Government had been struck out and in its inserted one stating that the attitude of the Labour Party to the D"''y Control Board had ruined the producers. Mr. Grounds asked why the alterations were made. Mr. Grounds said that they all recognised the ability displayed, by Mr. Goodfellow and how he had advanced the industry in his own district. “But I say,” said Mr. Grounds, “that Mr. Goodfellow lias transferred to another camp, and I say that we can march better without him.” With reference to the suggestion that the Dairy Board and the Meat Board should amalgamate. Mr. Grounds said that the consolidation of these two interests was in line with the proposal that the producer should keep out of line of the merchants and leave vested interests to rake in their shekels. “The trouble.” concluded Mr. Grounds, “has arisen in the board from intrigues that have gone on within its own circle, caucuses to which I was not invited, and at: which important matters were debated. I express no bitterness, but I think those present will know better now. I believe I have justified the trust reposed in mo.”

Mr. lorus, a member of,the board, who was present in the hall rose at the conclusion of Mr. Ground's address, and said that he was very sorry that the chairman of the board had gone in for recriminations and attacked individual members of the board and had talked of caucuses. Mr. lorus also asked Mr. Grounds why lie had tried to stop him from handing the report of his observations in London to the Press when he recently returned from a trip abroad. "You tried hard to stop me putting.it out to the Press,” said Mr. lorns, “and I told you I would publish it as an interview.” Sir. Grounds : I did not oppose it. Mr. lorns: Well, I have finished. Another member asked if Mr. Grounds was invited as an ordinary delegate or as chairman of the board If he was invited to speak as board chairman, why not Mr. Goodfellow? The meeting then concluded with a vote of thanks to Sir. Grounds for his address.