NOTES OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 16, 13 October 1933, Page 8

NOTES OF THE DAY

Britain's new Milk Marketing Board, constituted to control the production and sale ot the country’s milk supply under the pooling system, has been able, since it began operations on October 6, to contract for the sale of the total production for the next six months. Ihe Board’s immediate task was to settle contract terms for the period of three months from the expiry of current contracts on September 30 last. Under the Agricultural Marketing Act the pooling scheme on a national scale was to be enforced as from January 1 next. Evidently the Board has got well ahead of its schedule. The period contracted for embraces the winter months, and the Board no doubt has been able to achieve this satisfactory result without difficulty. The real test of the scheme will come with the ensuing six months, ( when increased production during spring and summer may bring in an embarrassing surplus of supplies.

Tn less than seven weeks the first of the new season scries or New Zealand wool sales will be held at Auckland, followed by fixtures at Napier and Wellington. It is highly satisfactory to note, tliereinfe, that the September-October sales in London have closed firm for all kinds of wool. Compared with July rates fine crossbreds made a 10 per cent, advance and coarse, 15 per cent. The demand was firm and active, coming from both Home and foreign buyers. Australian advices serve to confirm the favourable impression produced by London reports and generally the auspices are still set fair for the New Zealand fixtures. Woolgrowers are also in the happy position of not having to worry about the proposals for restricted production which are being made'in the meat and dairy produce trades. Stocks of wool are remarkably low and, instead of talking about overproduction, there is a suggestion of scarcity due to the depletion of flocks, especially in South Africa and South America. Barring unexpected developments, the new season’s sales promise a much improved return to the sorely pressed growers.

There are indications in a cable message to-day that the present coalition of the Nationalist and South African parties is likely to resolve itself into a permanent fusion, ensuring greater political stability. The new Coalition Government under Generals Hertzog and Smuts,' notes a Round Table article, has worked admirably as a team, and shows no sign of fissure as a result of past. controversy or divergence in the elements of which it is composed. The strength of the fusion movement, now in progress, is rather in the country districts than in the towns, adds the writer. As the same time there are elements of discord which may halt it, or even disrupt it. lhe fusionists have to reckon with the intransigeance of Dr. Malan, whose continued support of the Coalition is regarded as uncertain, and who is expected to take the first opportunity of organising an exclusive Dutch “cave.” There is also Mr. Tielmann Roos, who may join in alliance with his old political enemy, Dr. Malan, to oppose the Hertzog-Smuts combination. Natal is considered to be the doubtful factor in the situation. The acceptance by the Orange Free State Nationalist Congress and the Cape South African Party Congress of the principle of fusion should, however, have a considerable moral effect on public opinion.