The Hawera Star. THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 1925. FARMERS WITH THE BOARD.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 19 March 1925, Page 4

The Hawera Star.

THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 1925. FARMERS WITH THE BOARD.

Delivered every evening by 5 (.’clock Ilawera, Manaia, Normanby, Okaiawa, Kltham, Manifatnki. Kapnng’a, Altnn, Jlurlpxvil.e, Paten, Waverley. Mnkoia. Whakaniara, Ohangai, Mere mere, Fraser Road, and Ararata.

What was probably as representative a meeting, of South Taranaki dairy farmers -as could have been, convened, yesterday heard t'he chairman of the- Dairy Board explain, the position in regard to control, plied him with questions, and then, threw its whole weight in behind the board and the decision to take absolute control of all produce for export. That was what we anticipated would !bap]MM!' if 'a representative of the board could come face to lace with the farmers of the district, an lay the Whole of the facts, before them. From the tone of the questions put to Air. 'Grounds, it was fully apparent that producers real.se the magnitude of the undertaking to which they have committed themselves, and, perhaps for tliat reason, some were doubtful ol the wisdom of the hoard in going ahead at Ruch a. rate.. Probably the observation by Mr. J. Marx su,mined up the feeling of the doubters. Tie was. not, lie .said, opposed to the idea ol control ; but lie thought that the board was taking its fences a* little too quickly. Without Mr. Ground,s s full explanation of the whole position, and his emphasis upon the, point that control must be “absolute” or not at a'!, it would be easy to fall into line with Mr. Marx • but the meeting was convinced, a.s we have been satisfied all along, that the board can be trusted not to, force the pace- beyond the limits'

of isaiofcy. The proposal of AT r. Marx’s motion—that the enforcement of absolute control should be suspended until a majority of the producers should have decided for it—was sound in principle, and certainly not .suggestive of hostility. The control question is undoubtedly one in which the will of the majority of dairy farmers should prevail; but we feel positive that the only results of a. plebiscite would be added delay and expense, since the will of the farmers lias been made abundantly plain in the present controversy. They were responsible for the introduotiort to Parliament of the Dairy Control Bill, and they elected the board. Everything suggests that, were another vote taken, it would disclose an overwhelming majority in favour of control. Therefore it would be a waste both of time and money to take a vote. If there wore any clearly defined body of opposition to control within the ranks of' the farmers themselves, the position would be different; but those who have been making all the noise are not producers. Of course the farmers of South Taranaki have signed their death warrants, and, if they carry out the intention which they expressed the Whole dairying industry will go .smash ! That must be, for the Chambers of Commerce tell ns iso. And we all know that the best judges of the farmers’ interests are the commercial people, jiiisiti as the best, judge of cattle is a motor mechanic, and the best housewife a titled lady who has never worn a kitchen apron I It is saddening to think of the tea,ns with which the Chambers of Commerce have watered the unresponsive desert, but we have an idea that, if .any sleep is to be lost over this control business, it will .not be by the producers. Tire scheme is a new thing and a big thug; and because of that it will require .careful and tactful handling. But equally it is rioh in possibilities to one of ,ouir leading industries. There are risks in it; but-.risk will be no new factor to f'he man on the land, while there is in it too a chance for him to receive something closer approaching the full market value of his product than anything he has hi thentO' enjoyed.