DAIRY PRODUCE

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 January 1926, Page 3

DAIRY PRODUCE

CONTROL BOARD’S POLICY. (Per Pres# Association.) HAWERA, January 29. 'A largely attended meeting of dairy farmers and factory directors, held at Hawera to-day, was addressed by representatives of the Dairy Control Board. The meeting was held under the auspices of the Taranaki Federation of Dairy Factories, Mr T. A. Winks, presiding. . Mr Grounds, chairman of the Control Board, in reviewing the policy of the Board, favoured the establishment of a Dairy Council in order to get into . closer touch with the various districts. The present system of election was altogether unsatisfactory. He submitted’that there had been no chang'd in the Board’s policy tl\at warranted the view that the Board had changed its outlook as far as the question of control was concerned. Referring to criticism, he said that there had been a good deal of concentration work. The Board only desired to arrange a satisfactory distribution to the British market through the existing channels, and was arranging to follow an absolutely fair course by allocating supplies on the basis of the previous amounts supplied in various quarters. The Board’s policy was to have distributors in touch with a cen-

tral office and reporting daily as to, how the market was progressing. He denied the suggestion of the alleged “domination” -of the Board by the Waikato suppliers, and deprecated the tendency to bring the Board into local squabbles. It had been suggested that the Board’s policy of control should be deferred. This would be fatal and, he thought, would mean the of the control of the industry by the producers. The members of the Board believed it to be essential that they should be given a chance to display the soundness of the policy laid before the industry, which would be put into execution next August. Other speakers were: H. D. Forsyth (Taranaki), J. Fisher (Southland), and J. R. Thacker (Canterbury). Members of the Board supported the policy of control and referred to the work already done in the producers’ interests. Mr W. Goodfellow (Waikato) characterised as absolute rubbish the talk of \ a Waikato “Dominance” Board.

He urged that it was essential that the Board should be strongly supported to enable it to cany out its decisions. After a number of questions had been answered, Mr Corrigan (Hawera) proposed : “That this meeting of dairy producers recommends the Control Board to postpone taking absolute control in the meantime, the time proposed being inopportune.” Mr Purdie (Waitara) seoended. An amendment was moved by Mr Cocker (Rawhitiroa): “That this meeting favours the policy outlined by Mr Grounds.” Mr Dunn (Auroa) seconded. On a division being taken, the amendment was lost by two votes. The motion was then declared negatived on the voices.