AGAINST THE BUTTER POOL.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 4592, 18 May 1922, Page 4

AGAINST THE BUTTER POOL.

(To the Editor, Star.) Sir, —The scheme for the pooling of dairy produce lias been presented to us—pressed upon us with all the ardour and dash of a political campaign. Its advantages and glorious prospects fired our imaginations till, in the ecstasy of love at first sight, wo all but surrendered our liberty. Now our native caution is asserting itself, and demands that we pause and consider —consider it in the light of past experience and present-day facts—-whe-ther wo dairy farmers, the parties most personally and directly concerned, will be doing justice to ourselves, our families, and fellow citizens hy consenting to hand over the sale and control of our produce to the directors and manager of the proposed pool. We remember that the last act in the period of war control and purchase was the purchase of our butter by the Government at 2s Gd per lh How this price was refused on behalf of a number of factories hy one of the most ardent supporters of the 1 pool. How, after a- period of exercise and pati 3:ice and forbearance by tho Premier is holding the offer open, the price was gladly accepted; how shortly after the opening of the season 90 per cent of the cheese factories possessed of a dual ill ant turned over to butter, so that instead of the Government receiving a normal supp:y of New Zealand butter, they we.-'flooded with an altogether abnormal amount. Common justice compels us. to admit that the Government were, in a sense, had by this deal, losing a good deal of money—money paid by the New Zealand dairymen. And common souse, if granted a hearing, proclaimed that this excess of butter in store must, sooner or later, be sold and assuredly have an adverse effect on the market. With full knowledge of all this Mr Goodfellow goes Home. Taking American syndicates by the way, and there, in conjunction with Ellison, with their hands on the. pulse of the market, conducted a series of experiments in marketing and controlling the markets. From the.story told in Now Plymouth one gathers that Is lid was accepted for butter, but 'be bottom fell out of the offer. An offer of Is lid was refused, and finally round about Is had to be accepted, resulting in the .factories concerned being let in for £28.000 This sum, we are told, was paid off in two and a half months by reducing the pay-out to Bpi per lb of butter-fat. These B}d pay-outs are doubtless remembered without pleasure by suppliers. Although these experiments ended in a blank, so lar as materia l b* refits arc concerned, they were fruitful in another field. The Tooley Street merchants were found to be men of brains and ability, of ripe experience, men taking full advantage of long years of training and association with their clients. This discovery is valuable. Two year ago, when C.W.S. scheme was on the carpet, these men were represented as something very different.

Now wc are asked to set up a board of control and regulate to a certain extent the business of these capable and experienced men. Where will we find anyone qualified for the task? Naturally, we look to the 'eaders of the pool movement, but we have knowledge of the work of two of these good follows in London. Wo have similar recollections of N.D.A. excussions. So wo can only conclude that any body of directors we can set up would be pupils, not teachers—followers not leaders.

We are promised a saving of £60,OCC—money were never handle, and of paying a levy—money we do handle. We want to know how advances are to be made and the monthly pay-out not. True, wo are told these things can be arranged. Comforting! But far from satisfying. Better be sure now, not sorry afterwards. One million capital paid by ourselves to handle produce now handled by many millions of independent capital. The Government guarantee is still in the air, and it is quite possible the said Government have enough of such goods on hand. Should they take it on they will be involved to such an extent that of necessity they must exercise a controlling part of the pool, and the outcome will bo a Government-run business. Pleasing to anticipate, seeing we curse Ocrernmont-run railways. _ ‘'Alary of the consigning firms aro in favour jf the scheme.” How much is this -worth?” Some few are no doubt of that class always on the look out for an easy way of making money by any means.' The great majority, no doubt, havo ability, brains and foresight enough to seo that the pool will rr ake practically . o ■: ffe/:nc3 !j their business. So that, if it pleases New Zealand producers, and they are willing to pay for it, why they may. Improvements are needed, have boon made, and can bo made to our existing method <f marketing, aid

therein lies cur safest course. To give up control of our own produce, to bind ourselves hand and foot to a compulsory scheme, to he debarred from soiling or consigning ns we choose is a proposition we decline to entertain. Rather let us, by refusing to he married in haste, avoid the bitter leisurely tepentance which would certainly follow.—! am, etc., GEO. GIBSON. Rahotu