HELPLESSNESS AND CONFUSION.

Franklin Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 83, 19 July 1933, Page 4

HELPLESSNESS AND CONFUSION.

Sir, —The menace of quota lias baffled Dairy Board and Company, lias made them so helpless and confused as to allow Mr W. Grounds to trespass upon the truth of oommonsense. He announced that there was no other market in sight “in spite of recent vague intimations to the contrary,” that the hoard has explored thoroughly the possibility of opening up fresh markets with negative results, and that the consequences of the quota would he disastrous 'o the whole of New Zealand. lie went on lo say that any suggestion that the effects of the quota could be overcome were a decided illservice to the country. Mr Grounds is in the blackest of despairs. He does not know where he is, and what lo do, except to sit up and to dictate again to Britain: “Stop that horrible nonsense.” He was not so helpless when the manager of his board in London has initiated this very “nonsense” by requesting the British Cabinet to impose a quota of 75 per cent on butter import's from foreign countries, lie was not in despair when. New Zealand butter was selling in Britain at 54/- a cwt, and he was insisting upon making an eternal alliance with the devil of low prices rather than to navigate the deep sea of limitations in British imports ■ (as suggested; for sake of prices, by his manager). He was certainty cheerful when voting an additional levy of £25,000 on the 50,000 ruined dairy farmers to advertise again arid again New Zealand butter and cheese in Britain, where high exchange', the “rejections” of quota and the natural contrariety of British farmers are giving such a pleasant atmosphere to the sales of our produce. But now lie is utterly lost and positively incorrect in his unwarranted remarks about new markets. Not “vague intimations,” but serious inquiries and actual expeditions were made, and companies formed to trade with lands and countries unknown—to Mr Grounds. Surely such things could not happen if only “vague intimations” were to hand. There was no “exploration” and no “thorough” investigalionregard in rpstcopgeiev

gation regarding prospective markets ever attempted by the hoard. It is now up to Mr Grounds to disclose exactly who, when and where was responsible for thoroughly exploring new markets that nobody knew anything about. A serious question arises: on what grounds Mr Grounds is condemning the efforts of groups and individuals to help the country against the suffocation of our exports—by opening up new outlets for the surplus of produce—why is he hindering such honest endeavours, and how can he affirm that New Zealand has no chance to export anything anywhere but to rßitain? It is high time that such pessimistic and retrograde utterances should cease. The tendency to exaggerate the evils of the situation and to shirk the responsibilities of constructive work (even a difficult one), are not helpful. The country demands action, and action must come. Mr "Grounds and his friends have had two solid years to prepare themselves and the business for an emergency such as is facing us now. I think they were warned and approached in time. I think the prejudiced attitude that they took yvas one of the main causes of the collapse of some companies intending to introduce our produce to peoples and countries so utterly strange to Mr Grounds. I can assure Air Grounds that to New Zealand, as lo every normal and independent country, great possibilities are opened in foreign markets, just as they are open, for instance, to Canada exporting butter and cheese to China, to Australia, shipping dairy produce to East Indies, etc. and etc., because these countries are wise and keen on having many outlets for their surplus of produce instead of one. “Caena recta,” the right name, was regarded by Romans as a social friendly repast, with many dishes, but when only one dish was presented the meal was named “caena ambulatoria.” This is evidently the ease of Mr Grounds and his partisans. Shall we call the ambulance? —T am, etc., ALEXANDER S. TETZNER. “Riverside Farm.” Patumahoe. July 15, 1933.