DEMAND FOR FREE MARKET.

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 125, 27 May 1920, Page 3

DEMAND FOR FREE MARKET.

PRODUCERS' INTERESTS.

AUCKLAND, 26th May.

The question of a free market in Britain for New Zealand produce is to be the subject of a conference of producers with the Prime Minister in Wellington to-morrow. The conference was called iby the President of the Board of Agriculture (Sir James Wilson), and the Auckland province is to be represented by Messrs. J. E. Makgill and E. K. Wilson (Farmers' Union), S. J. Ambury (chairman of the Farmers' Freezing ■Company),, and J. Massey (president of 'the Auckland A. and P Association). Referring to this matter in' his presidential address at the Fanners' Union Conference yesterday, Mr. James Boddde said it was to be hoped the conference ■would result in bringing about an im--provement in the present situation, end that sufficient ships would be forthcoming to relieve the serious congestion of the freezing stores. He expressed the hope that the day was not far distant when there would be an end to all forms of control and interference with prices, and that the primary producei might soon be able to place his produce free and unfettered on the markets of the world. He had received' a telegram from Mr. W. Goodfellow, managing director of the New Zealand co-operative Dairy Company to the effect that_ according to private cablegrams received recently 'from London a free market might yeS be obtained for butter and cheese if the New Zealand Government would exert itself in presenting the producers' case to the Imperial Government. Mr. Groodfellow said the opinion was held that our Government -was not anxious for political reasons to help the butter producers to get a fair price. The dairy people asked the union to them in their demand for a free market ■by stirring the New Zealand Government to action. There was a world shortage of butter. A strongly-worded telegram to the Prime Minister and members of Parliament from the union's executive and branches, said Mr. Goodfellow, would materially assist the dairy farmers' cause.

Commenting on this matter, the Chairman said he did not think there was very much in the allegation aeainst the ■Government, but after the sacrifices the producers made during the last four or five years it was high time they had. a say in the subject.- (Applause J If it was necessary to provide butter for any particular section of the community at a price less than that ruling in the world's markets, let them face that, and come to the rescue of the poov and weak, but .they should eive the Government to understand-that there must be no more interference with prices, and there must be a- free market. (Aroplaufe.)

Mr. Boddie moved that the following telegram be despatched to the Prime Minister :—"The Auckland Farmers' Union now in conference urges the Government to insist on* s free market for Now Zealand butter."

Mr. E. K. Wilson seconded. . He said they had demonstrated to the Government that they would not continue as in the past. They shoxild make their demands strong, aa they wanted results. The motion was carried amid; applause. ' ,