DAIRY CO-OPERATION.

Hawera Star, Volume L, 20 February 1931, Page 6

DAIRY CO-OPERATION.

(To the Editor.) Sir. —I have read in to-night’s “Star” the views of yet another advocate of better co-ordination of the dairy industry by a member of the control board, and he, of course, backs up his fellow member. May I suggest to you sir that these gentlemen being members of so many boards, that it almost amounts to professionalism. 'lake, for instance, the federation established in Taranaki, Mr. Corrigan says “the federation was formed with the idea that as a combined body it could give expression to the views of the industry m the district, and could take action to .place the industry on a better footing.” Well what has it done ? It really originated the scheme of standardised cheese, with what results to the industry everybody knows. New Zealand cheese down to 51s per cwt. How pleased the dairy farmers must be that they had the federation to think for them! We also had the Tokaora test, and on the ipse dixit of one man, we have set dairymen quarrelling among themselves over the best breed of cattle to keep, and also some advocates of particular breeds getting a little free advertisement out of the correspondence columns oi the Press. Mr. Corrigan says that “every time a little (save the mark) economci trouble is experienced the dairy fanners, or a section of them .... want to pull down the structure established for their protection!” Don’t you think, sir, that the little economic trouble through which we are passing is enough to make oven the most lackadaisical of dairy farmers sit op and take notice of the numerous boards that they have to support, or do you think that they should wait until something really big comes their way before taking action? Probably farmers, instead of arguing the point, will let some of their boards die a natural death by withholding the funds for them to carry on with. Mr. Corrigan .says “the dairy laboratory in an institution which we need urgently to-day.” What for? Cannot the Massey College do everything necessary in the way of research work? There is one hoard from which wo cannot escape, viz., the Control Hoard which has the power to lix a compulsory levy, yet he would be a bold man who would even suggest that we get value for our money from that hoard. When they had the opportunity of doing good for the industry they quarrelled among themselves, with the result that the best brains on the hoard had to leave it. Practically the only man of ability left on the board does not represent the farmers; lie represents the mercantile interests. Co-,

ordination! where can we get it ? Certainly not from the Control Hoard with its conflicting interests. I wish dairymen to take particular notice that besides the amount they pay directly to- the federation and laboratory, the Control Board are also spending for them the sum of £8,200 per annum as a. further subsidy to research work. The ideal board that you aim at, Mr. Editor, is, I am afraid, very much in the air. Dairymen will certainly hesitate before sub-, 1 scribing to any further organisation with dictatorial powers. We are not looking for a Mussolini in the farming community. If left to themselves the’ farmers will eventually work out their own salvation. —I am, etc., DAIRYMAN, NO. 2.