STANDARDISED CONTRACTS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 16 August 1929, Page 5

STANDARDISED CONTRACTS.

FOR PURCHASE OF BUTTER. AND CHEESE. OBJECTIONS RAISED IN SOUTH ISLAND. (By Telegrapn—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, Aug 15. When the Dairy Export Control Board met in Wellington on July 10 the secretary, Mr. T. C. Brash, reported that lie iiad received Irom the Exporters’ Association particulars of contracts that were proposed to be used as models in the purchase of butter and cheese, it being (so he stated) tlie general desire in tlie industry that a standardised contract should be available.

The board after discussion resolved that the contracts be accepted as standard contracts for f.o.b. sale of butter for season’s outputs and monthly makes in regard to cheese. The board baulked on provisions regarding shrinkage and other details, and decided that the question of the contract should be deferred to its next meeting, the various cheese organisations to- be consulted in the meantime as to their views on its provisions. Air. W. G. Wight, Dunedin, secretary of the South Island Dairy Association, thereupon wrote to Air. I) rash asking for copies of the proposed contracts.

Air. Brash replied that he could not supply them, as they were tlie property of the Dairy Produce Exporters’ Association and his board (the Dairy Export Control Board) had received no authority to supply copies of the contracts to anyone except that board’s members.

Air Wight wrote in reply that the board’s own organ (the “New Zealand Dairy Exporter”) in its issue of July 26 had stated that the various cheese organisations would be consulted as to their views on the proposed contract. He pointed out that it was impossible for the South Island Dairy Association to express its views on the contract unless it had copies of it. Mr. AViglit, however, wrote also to the secretary of the Exporters’ Association asking for copies of the contract, which were, promptly forwarded to him. On these copies being thus available to the South Island Association, Air. William Lee, Goodwood, who is also a member of the Dairy Control Board, expressed disapproval of the contract. As his request- a meeting of the South Island Dairy Association’s Otago representatives was called. It was held yesterday in Dunedin.

The meeting passed the following motion unanimously: “That this meeting of Otago dairy producers strongly condemns the proposed new contracts submitted by the Exporters’ Association, which will have the effect of reducing the market value of our produce.

“AVo view with the greatest alarm the action of the Dairy Produce Board in approving a contract which appears to have been framed solely in the interests of exporters. “If it be the desire of the board to act in the interests of the producers we strongly urge it to withdraw its acceptance of the butter contract at the earliest opportunity, and not to ratify tlie proposed cheese contract until both butter and cheese oontract.s are submitted to the producers through their dairy associations.”