THE FARMER AND MONOPOLY

Evening Star, Issue 22974, 3 June 1938, Page 16

THE FARMER AND MONOPOLY

CONTROL WOULD BECOME ESSENTIAL " SQUEEZING " THE PRODUCER [Per United Press Association.) ' CHRISTCHURCH, June 2. ‘‘ If control is brought about it will be the fault of private enterprise for trying to squeeze the last penny out of the producer,” said Mr I. L. M. Coop, president of the North Canterbury District of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, speaking at the provincial conference on control in industry. “ 1 believe in control when it is absolutely necessary,” he said. “ While private enterprise is acting in competition and produce is fetching its value, then I believe in private enterprise, but when firms amalgamate and form themselves into a monopoly so that there is only one buyer, then there is nothing else left for the farmer to do but to ask for control. If there is only one buyer there must be only one seller. Otherwise, through lack of buying competition, .the multitude of sellers will be placed at a distinct disadvantage. The farmer is an individual who likes to manage his own business without having an army of inspectors or any restrictions placed upon him, but he will quickly ask for protection if he finds that monopoly is getting the better of him.”