COST OF PRODUCE BOARDS

Hawera Star, Volume LII, 7 July 1932, Page 7

COST OF PRODUCE BOARDS

SUGGESTION FOR REDUCTION POSITION OF SURPLUS FUNDS FARMERS’ UNION DISCUSSION. The cost to the producer of the. various produce boards was discussed by the Dominion executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union at its meeting at Wellington on Wednesday .(says the “Dominion.”) Alter discussion a committee ox four was appointed to give more detailed consideration to the question.. The discussion was inaugurated by Mr L. Hammond, of Marten., who moved to remit that the meeting ask the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board to reduce the levy oli meat exports. The remit wais seconded by the president, Mr. W. J. Poison, M.P., who pointed out that the various boards had collected £500,000, and that they had £IOO,OOO invested in Government securities. At a time like the present such investments should be to relieve the producers of their levies. It was time they asserted themselves ais producers. and asked that reserves should ibe made use of for relieving the producers. . Mir. C. R. Slieat, of Otago, said the present was a time when the Meat Board should be active in finding new markets-. It would be unwise to deplete its resources. The matter needed careful looking into-.

“SOMETHING FOR NOTHING.” Mr. W W. Muillholland, of South Canterbury, thought the Meat Board kept its levy within reasonable limits. Anyone who declared that about £1 per flock was too much to pay for his own protection must want something for nothing. The time would come when a .board such as the Meat Board would have to take up a militant attitude, and the only way that could be done was with money. The board had reduced its levy slightly. Mr. R,. H. Feisst, of Waikato, said that without reserves the board would be useless. He deprecated the cry against the boards for building up reserves.

Mjr. Hammond said it was thought a reduction oouM 1 be made without in any way attacking the reserves. There hail been an increase in the number of carcases exported last year. He did not ask the board to dip into its reserves, but thought it should not go on piling them up. The Meat Board’s investments in Government stock totalled £63,000, and in addition it had £29,000 invested in a cool storage building in London. That, he understood, was considered a gilt-edged investment. Those securities should he ample for the board at present. It was felt a reduction could be made without impairing the efficiency of the board or interfering with its reserves. Mr. Ni. Oamp!belL, of Palmerston, moved a® an amendment that a committee: be appointed to go into the question of the cost of the boards. “A member of Parliament’s job,” he said, “is not in it with a job on the Dairy Board. It is one of the best paid jobs in New Zealand.”

Mr. Hammond agreed to withdraw the remit, and the amendment was then carried. The following were appointed meinbr" f the committee: Messrs Hammond, J. D. Pewe, H. Blyde and Campbell.