CO-ORDINATED CONTROL

Hawera Star, Volume L, 14 February 1931, Page 4

CO-ORDINATED CONTROL

DAIRY INDUSTRY PROBLEM LACK OF LEADERSHIP EXECUTIVE SUGGESTED The suggestion put forward in a < ‘Hawera Star’ ’ editorial on Thursday that a greater measure of coordination in the control of the. dairying industry in New Zealand was essential to its future welfare was endorsed in an interview with a “Star" reporter yesterday by a leading dairyman and by representatives of the commercial side of the industry. There was complete agreement among the speakers that the Dairy Division did not warrant the confidence of the industry.

Mr H. E. Johnson, of Tokaora, one of the three dairymen of that district whose herds supplied the milk used iu the now famous tests carried out under the direction of the Hawera laboratory into tho relative values of high and low testing milk for cheese manufacture, said: “I heartily agree with the principle expounded in the ‘Star’ editorial. The dairy industry of the Dominion lacks leadership and there is an undoubted need for an executive head or council with executive powers to bring in needed reforms. Just what form it should take is difficult to state without mature consideration. It should primarily, of course, be representative of the producers in its appointment as they are the people who would be affected by its operations. “We have at present, certain organisations which endeavour to act for the producers, hut' they lack the powers necessary to make them completely successful. The N.D.A. is one. That organisation, however, has become purely a. trading concern and though, in certain channels, it may secure certain benefits it is not now dealing, as, formerly, with other practical and important problems affecting the industry.

RESTRICTED 1 POWERS. “We have the Dairy Board, which is appointed principally by the industry to act in its interests, but it cannot take action in many needed directions without the sanction of the Dairy Division of the Department of Agriculture and does not always receive from the Dairy Division the full measure of assistance which might reasonably be expected, however beneficial the division may be in some directions to dairymen. Given greater power the Dairy Board could do much for the industry, but at present it is too greatly restricted.” Instancing the limited power of the Dairy Board and its. inability to have put into practice the principles of recommendations made to it and endorsed by it, Mr Johnson referred to the standardised cheese controversy. The board, by nine votes to two, had recommended the abolition of the standardised process, but the State Department had decided to allow the continuation of thei system, though in a modified form.

The suggestion might very naturally be raised that the establishment of yet another body to act in the interests of dairymen would entail further charges and levies on the producers and that these were already too high, continued Mr Johnson in referring again to the suggestion that a board or council with executive power should be set up.

ACTION ESSENTIAL. It was essential, however, as. was being shown continuously in the opinions of New Zealander's who had personally investigated the Home marketing conditions as well as in reports received from experts at Home, that action must be taken in many directions if the Dominion dairy industry of the future was to be safeguarded. Experience of the last 10 years had shown that the industry was drifting instead of keeping pace with or forging ahead of competition. Some of the causes had been indicated pretty clearly and if expense was necessary ~to have such rectified it should be faced. With the present proposal, however, it might not even be necessary to establish an additional body.

“We already have the Dairy Board with a responsible personnel and an extension of its scope, giving it authoritative power should possibly open a way to meet the position without the creation of additional expense to the industry,” said Mi* Johnson in conclusion. There were a number of important problems with which such an executive might deal, a typical one being the question of producing a milk more suitable for cheese manufacture than was being encouraged at the present! time, with resultant penalty to the industry through farming purely for butter-fat.

A PRACTICABLE SCHEME

“There has been a pretty general feeling that some thing is radically wrong with the manufacturing end of the industry, and it is desirable that some board or person entirely beyond political control should l be able to take a strong hand and insist on a complete overhaul of the methods of manufacture and all matters pertaining to it,” said a dairy factory secretary. The Dairy Division, he added, had been given all sorts of powers, but on account of political interference Mr Singleton did not exercise them, and it was doubtful if lie desired to do so. General opinion agreed that there was no real leadership in the industry, and there was certainly no real authority. T 1 ie Dairy Division was politically controlled, the N.D.A. was a trading organisation, while, tile Control Board could exercise its powers only when produce had left New Zealand. These facts made it. all the more necessary that a board as had. been suggested in the article should be established. Such a board, however, would bo> valueless there was to Ire even the slightest political interference. Possibly the formation of such a board would present difficulties, but. there was no doubt, that its functions could have a very wide effect- -on the industry, and for the industry’s good. In his opinion, the personnel of such a board should comprise five leading commercial men with a knowledge of the dairy industry, and there were some outstanding men in New Zealand who would fill the positions admirably. It would not he necessary for them to bo either farmers or ehcesemakers. The proposed board would need to have absolute control of the Dairy Division, or else it wouid not get very far; in fact, absolute control of the whole industry was essential. If such a board were ; vested with the powers given the ; Dairy Division much could be | achieved. i

it might also be suggested that if cue ngne. man were iu ciiarge oi the uairv m vis ion and beyond political coat lui lie could bring about the necessary changes. In, Canada the whole ol nil, maustry was in charge of the director ol the Dairy Division, who »as most competent, and wfto wonted minampered. AU tnat the proposed uoard would actually have to oo would do to see that the ngnt man was ni charge ol the division and that he did nis job. “ilie method by which to put the suggestion into operation wo.uid need carerul study,” continued the speaker, ••in the past there have been innumerable rarmers’ meetings to discuss certain aspects of the industry. Ail sorts of resolutions have been passed, but no results have been achieved. In this instance, it meetings were held, proper steps would have to be taken to see mat the matter did not end with them, another alternative, or perhaps a sequel to the meetings, would be to introduce a Bill in Jt'arliament. If control is to be taken out of the bauds of the Dairy Division, and that seems an apparent necessity, then tile introduce non of a Bill would be essential. The introduction of a Bill could be made oy one of the district iVl.R.’s. There is much to commend the suggestion s>ut , forward, and it certainly is practicable, r-'roperiy carried into effect it could perhaps bring about changes that the industry badly needs.’’.

JNO POLITICAL INTERFERENCE,’’

Tiie representative of a well-known produce nrm expressed the opinion emit long before this the industry should have had similar control to that advocated. It did not matter whether the control was in the hands, of one man or a board, but it was very necessary that there should be absolutely no political interference, otherwise no progress would be made.

“The director of the Dairy Division lias stated that he will do nothing unless it is at the wish of the suppliers. To my mind, that shows that he is being led, and that he is by no means a leader. Unless there is a controlling body to say what has to be done, no progress wilt ever be made. ’The dairy industry never has had. a leader and it lias been a case of the blind Jeading the blind:

“From Mr Singleton downwards, the educational qualifications of the Dairy Division members are limited, and 1 don’t know of one that has a university education. How then can they grasp the real need for science in the industry:-’ Supreme authority in the industry is needed, and needed badly. Given control of the Dairy Division, the proposed board or person would have the opportunity to exercise a. wide power and would have an already existent means of enforcing its decisions. I am of opinion that a board would be preferable, and that it should comprise carefully chosen businessmen who have a. knowledge of the industry and of Home market requirements. ‘ ‘lt is quite to be expected that every supplier in the country would want to have a say in the formation of such a board, and that, perhaps, is unfortunate. It must be admitted that the majority of them are suspicious of everyone and everything, which fact leads to endless trouble in the industry. Each individual farmer tries, to dictate and most of them are working for their own particular ends, and not for the most good: The industry has been badly lead astray for many years, and the time is fully opportune for action along the lines proposed. The formation of the controlling authority would be difficult and there would be strenuous objectors. It might be referred to Members of Parliament, but there are very, very few who would dare to get up and say what they should about the industry’s plight and the need for a drastic overhaul. Then again, there are few of them who really understand the industrv.

“Careful consideration would have to be given to the steps- necessary for bringing the proposal to fruition, but the difficulties <ire not by any means insurmountable. A lead has been given m a forward movement and it is up to the leaders of the industry to show their appreciation by according their support.”