DAIRY CONTROL

Evening Star, Issue 19186, 1 March 1926, Page 6

DAIRY CONTROL

DEFENCE OF BOARD'S EFFORTS Mr W. Grounds, chairman of the New Zealand Dairy Produce Control Board, delivered an address on 1 Dairy Control ’ and dairymen and other* in the N.Z. Express Company’s board room to-day. Mr W. Bryant presided over a largo attendance The Chairman said that, as Mr Grounds was in the district, the South Island Dairy Association had invited him to speak in Dunedin. Mr Grounds said that the board was greatly indebted to the association to be able to address producers, The speaker said that the last time he addressed them he had just returned from a tour abroad as a delegate of the board. He stated that, acting upon the information received during the tour, the hoard had decided to take absolute control of the produce. The board had been subjected to a great deal of criticism, and he was there to answer, it. They were anxious to bo guided by the opinions of those in the industry. There had been a considerable amount of discussion about the methods of election of members of the board, and there seemed to be an opinion prevalent that the board members were anxious to retain their positions. However, he would like to emphasise that members of the board were only desirous of assisting the industry. The hoard had decided to hold a conference in Wellington shortly, when the whole question of the method of the election of the hoard would be considered. He referred to the publication of the official organ of the board, which was a direct circular from the hoard to the individual suppliers, as the hoard recognised the necessity of having the members of the council as closely in touch with the producer as possible* “The sooner the board is lifted out oS the political _ vortex the better it will he,” emphasised the speaker. They had been subjected to a variety of other criticisms, added Mr Grounds, but most of the criticisms were the result of a lack of knowledge about the facts of the position. They had been criticised because of the heavy arrivals in January, but they could hardly be blamed for that, as the trouble had been due to the strike. Another critic, who had recently returned from America, blamed the board for 7iot taking advantage of the market in that country during November and December. The critic, however, forgot that the board was not a marketing organisation. On the other hand, the ‘ Westminster Gazette ’ had blamed the board for allegedly curtailing supplies for Great Britain. Mr Grounds said that there had been sustained opposition irom certain interests, but this was hardly to ho wondered at, as the board was superseding them. He contended, however, that the board’s policy met with the support of many distributing houses both in New Zealand and in Britain. There had been a good deal of rubbish talked about the absolute fixation of prices. A great change was taking place in the handling of primary produce, the speaker referring to the consolidations that were taking place in the principal markets of the world, particularly as far as distribution waa concerned. Ho considered that a delay of a few years would have placed the dairying industry under the dominating hand of big capitalist interests. The hoard recognised that it could not produce a flawless organisation,, and in blazing the new track they wouM doubtless make mistakes. The board would deal fairly with merchant distributors, who, ho contended, would reap advantages from their relations with the hoard. The hoard, however, had the right to transfer business from one firm to another if such was found necessary. They were also out to obtain the* best price for the best article, and to cut out the inferior grade as much as possible. In conclusion, the speaker said that, in view of the position ho had outlined, _ he hoped that producers would not give up the right they had to decide what should he done with their produce.