DAIRY CONTROL

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 65, 19 March 1925, Page 3

DAIRY CONTROL

PROTEST TO THE BOARD

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE ACT

STATEMENT OF THEIR VIEWS.

The executive of the Associated Chambers of Commerce of the Dominion, following the opinion of the Attorney-Gene-ral on Dairy Export Control, met in Wellington yesterday. It decided to protest direct to the Dairy Produce Control Board against its assumption of absolute control of the export of butter and cheese. The following letter was drafted, and has been forwarded to the chairman of the Control Board:—

"Dear Sir, —You are probably aware that this association has endea-voured to stay the Government from issue of an Order-in-Council granting your board complete control of the dairy produce of New Zealand.

"The announcement of Sir Francis Bell, that the Government has no right to interfere with the discretion of the board, nullifies the protests sent to tie Ministers. Therefore it becomes necessary for the association to address you on the matter. "Without fear of contradiction we may say that the weight of opinion of chambers of commerce throughout the Doniinion is opposed to absolute control being eiercised. On the question of the issue of Order-in-Council, aa had been suggested, the association telegraphed the chambers, and the replies received •may be summarised as follows-:—-, VOICES OF CHAMBERS. : "Of 27 answers received:—Fifteen cliambers, comprising 2616 . members, strongly supported the suggestion to protest against the issue of • Order-in-Council granting absolute control. Six chambers, representing 293 members, were unable at the moment to express an opinion. One chamber, of 20 members, supported control, provided it is gradual, and the board's policy is disclosed. Four chambers, 155 members, favoured absolute control.; One chamber, 137 members, would express no opinion, the members being divided on the subject. ..,..■• REASONS AGAINST CONTROL. "My association objects to absolute control for the following reasons :—The board, has no clear .mandate . froni the producers in favour of complete control. When the poll was-taken,.-a' very large percentage of voters refrained from voting ; and those who recorded their opinion were by no means unanimous. Moreover, -when the poll was taken it was understood that complete control would only be resorted to in case of grave emergency. No such emergency has arisen, and it was further understood that such control could be exercised only after the issue of an Order-in-Council. The present is an inopportune time for disturbance of the dairying industry.' It has yet to be proved that absolute control, if vested in the board, will be of ultimate benefit to the producers, who must accept the returns of the board, good or bad. If sole control of all marketing be given to the board, the benefits of competition will be denied to the producers. Much experience will be necessary to handle in its entirety an industry producing £20,000,000 per annum, and such experience can be gained only _in time... Proprietary, companies and individual owners of dairy- "produce will not have the right to sell their own property as they think fit. New Zea-. lland has no monopoly of the London' market. The attempt to control selling of New Zealand \dairy produce in. London entirely in the interests of the sell-' ers_ will inevitably lead to retaliatory action on the part of the buyers. Control by sellers will be met with control by buyers—even if it does not cause them to turn their attention to other sources of supply. "The association recognises that much good may be' gained by means such as co-operation within New Zealand; improved marketing, more publicity, regulation of quality and grading and better freight rates—all of which will enhance the returns to the producers, and will provide the board with problems needing care and wisdom; but fears that the experiment of absolute control now proposed will tend to jeopardise with buyers in London the position of New Zealand dairy produce, to the , advantage of competitors, such as Denmark,' Siberia, Canada, and the Argentine." The letter was sighed by Mr. C. M. Bowden, secretary to the Associated Chambers of Commerce.