DIRECT TO CONSUMERS

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 55, 7 March 1922, Page 10

DIRECT TO CONSUMERS

TO THE IDITOR. Sir, —The time is long overdue for the best brains in the ranks of the producers to be exerted in the direction of organising for the advancement of their interests in the preparation, transport; and - distribution of their produce. To achieve success there must be no half measures. It is only- a big and comprehensive scheme that will succeed.,. /

Producers should realise the colossal sums- they are losing yearly as a result of the existing laissez-faire policy At one penny, per lib on the output of the main staple products for the last ten years the gigantic sum of £26,000,000 is represented. There are many pennies in the lib ruthlessly thrown away, under present indications. The only way is for the producers themselves to deliver their ■produce direct to the consumer.

The preliminary step would be the ■formation of. a New Zealand Dominion Producers' Corporation. Although banks doing business in the Dominion would no doubt be prepared to find substantial accommodation, I would strongly advocate an arrangement whereby a very large- sum would be secured on stock or debenture, so a 6 to give a stability of finance over periods of financial stringency. The Government would no doubt be prepared to guarantee, this ■stock. The money is available here. I do not favour the issue of subscribed capital, as this would introduce the dividend element, -which I am convinced •would be a grave mistake. The control would be vested in a Dominion board composed of members .of producers, and an . Expert Advisory Board in the United Kingdom.

The Corporation would control produce practically from the factory to the consumer.- Any missing link in the chain of that control would be fatal to success; it would -be at this point that the "enemy" ■would concentrate their attack ■and possibly succeed in dislocating the ■machinery. 'The Corporation has to have its forces >so marshalled as to be effective against the -.powerful vested interests that already hold the field. 'That they are going- to fight is evident from their impulsive opposition to the bare suggestion of reform as outlined by Mr. Massey. Knowing how the producer has been fleeced all these years, how he was victimised during the war, and what is in store for him in the future, I prepared a, scheme to meet the situation, and last July, during Mr. Maseey'g visit her*, submitted same to'him.- He was so impressed that he promised to, submit it to the Cabinet for their, consideration. Briefly, the proposal contained the following suggestions : — (1) The acquisition of Vail freezing works and their accessories.'.;. _ ■ (2) -The. grading and classification ofall produce and the valuing thereof. The dssue "of certificates to suppliers.,:!. ; (3) The establishment 'of :distinctive •trade designation for the '. respective grades. ■''„. ■ 4. 1 The pooling of all produce according to grades, thus eliminating identification of producers. 5. The payment of a pro forma amount against certificates. ■ ' ; 6. The acquisition of control of transport. . 7. The acquisition of docks and acces.sories in the United Kingdom, preferably beyond the jurisdiction of the Port of London Authority. '.': . 8. The acquisition 'of retail shops in approved centres. The great desideratum to be aimed at is the preparation of products for shipment under the most approved and economical methods. The encouragement of producers to aim at the highest, standard of excellence in the production of their supplies; The expedition in shipi ping and transport by installing the most up-to-date methods pi stevedoring and by centring cargoes at given ports, •so that transports need only' visit one port instead of patrolling the coast, as they have* done in the past and are now doing. The establishment here of , such docking facilities 'as will ensure, a substantial reduction in existing, port charges and prompt deliveries. '• 'j The control of storage facilities which will enable the produce to lp be heid.or regulated in deliveries so as to conserve the interests of the producers. It is only by adhering to such, methods that the best economy in handling the produce: will be obtained, The'opening of retail shops where only Dominion produce will.be exposed for sale will assist in the rehabilitation of Dominion produce. By the hold-up on the part of the Government and speculators, and the methods of distributing, its good name has suffered appreciably. ■ •-, Those disposed to move. actively in the direction I have outlined will be subject to the greatest intimidation. • They will be threatened with boycott and ruination if they establish such a scheme for handling Dominion produce. lam quite familiar with the methods of the trusts and combines; sometimes they succeed in freezing out their smaller competitor by various disreputable tactics. Sometimes they fail. New Zealand producers need not be intimidated. They can ship, if care on the part of the-producers be exercised, the finest produce in the world. There, is here a great consuming population, and one sympathetic towards any move to defeat the rapacious methods of those who have fattened on them these long years. The experience I have gained justifies me in saying that legitimate methods are at hand which would snow under/ the opposition of these great vested interests.—l am, etc.,

\V. RAYMOND. London, 13th January.