DAIRYING COMMISSION

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 3 May 1934, Page 7

DAIRYING COMMISSION

ORDER OF REFERENCE SCOPE OF INVESTIGATION EXTENSION OF THE FIELD QUESTIONS OF ADMINISTR ATION, FINANCE! AND MARKETING (By Telegraph—Press Associationo WELLINGTON, May 3, The following is the order of reference for the Dairy Commission: it is to inquire into and report on :

(1) The existing relationship between the production of dairy produce in New Zealand and the deinanu for such produce in New Zealand or existing overseas markets. (2) The practicability of extending existing markets and of establishing new markets. (3) The desirability or otherwise of varying the proportions existing between different classes oi manufactured dairy produce produced for local, or for overseas markets. (4) The economic; practicability of utilisation of raw dairy products for purposes other than the manufacture of butter and cheese. (5) The desirability or otherwise ot reducing the total output of dairy produce by the utilisation for other purposes of lands that are now being used, or are intended to be used, for dairy farming. (6) The methods generally followed in the industry in the production of raw products or of manufactured products and any practicable improvements of those methods or any of them that could be adopted with advantage. (7) The sufficiency or otherwise of monetary returns for the use ol capital or labour received by persons directly or indirectly engaged in the industry. (8) The manner in which the charges on the proceeds of the industry can best be reduced, having regard to the interests of raw products, of persons engaged in the manufacture of dairy produce and of persons 1 laving capital invested by way of mortgage or otherwise in the industry or in any enterprise associated with the industry. (9; The desirability or otherwise ot affording further assistance for the maintenance and reasonable development of the industry and means by which any such assistance can best be afforded. (10) The methods that should be "adopted for the purpose-of securing proper co-operation between persons engaged in New Zealand in the production, nyanufacture and sale or distribution of dairv produce, and of persons similarly engaged elsewhere. (11) Methods that may reasonably be adopted for promoting increased consumption in Now Zealand or elsewhere of raw or manufactured dairy produce. (12) The adequacy of the provisions of the Dairy industry Act, 1908. a ( ml the Dairy Export Control Act, 1923, having regard to the special conditions now affecting the industry. The commission is to report by June 17. Evidence to be Submitted FARMERS’ UNION CASE DECISION OF DOMINION EXECUTIVE. WELLINGTON, May 3. A unanimous decision to prepare a case for submission to the Dairy Commission was made by the Farmers’ Union Executive to-day. Several .speakers spoke of the need for speedy _ action and expressed the opinion .that it is not necessary for :he commission to take evidence, but pio ceed at once on their personal knowledge of the industry. They- t>ul the right to call in experts in any t< clinical question. It was decided, however, to set up a committee to prepare a case '-nd the following were appointed: .Mcssjs Poison (Stratford, chairman), Mellsop (Auckland). Campbell (Dairy Farmers’ Union), Blyde (Taranaki), Araott (Southland), A. Waite (Southland). Mr Poison was appointed to present the case fo the commission.

FARM MORTGAGES INQUIRY

PROTEST AGAINST EXCLUSION

SOUTH TARIANAiKI .RESOLUTIONS

*‘That this -meeting of the South Taranaki provincial executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union telegraphs an emphatic protest to the Prime IMinister against his action in refusing to include in the order of reference of the Royal Commission a report on farm finance with particular reference to land and stock mortgages. ’ ’ The foregoing resolution was passed unanimously at to-day’s monthly meeting of the executive in Hawera and the view expressed that without an inquiry into land and stock mortgages the Royal Commission could serve no useful purpose. It was further resolved that the commission hold sittings and take evidence in Taranaki.

The subject was introduced !by Mr J. Cocker, who -reported that similar resolutions were passed at a largely attended meeting of farmers and businessmen held in Eltham on Tuesday evening, when it was agreed to request, the support of the South Taranaki provincial executive. “Mortgages on land and stock taken out at high rates of interest during times of high price returns are still held to be binding at a time when price returns have fallen to a fifth,” said Mr Cocker, who recalled Mr 0. A. Wilkinson’s suggestion to the Prime Minister requesting the Government to insert as the first clause of the order of reference the following: “To enquire particularly into and report regarding the general financial position of the dairy farmer, especially in relation to capital and interest payments on land and stock Mortgages.” Mr Cocker contended that -the question was not covered by the order.

'Continuing, Mr Cocker said that the solving of the problem could only be done by the re-financing of the land, that land prices snould be -stabilised at what the land was worth, plus .improvements. Until some stable measure was inaugurated —and that could only be done by Act of Parliament — there was little chance of 90 per cent, of the farmers escaping ruin within a

very short .period. “Mr Wilkinson and I are opposed in our political views,” said Mr 'Cocker, “but on this point of reduction of mortgages we are agreed that there can ‘be no security of tenure until there has been an adjustment. Why the Government is. dodging the issue I don’t know.” The motion of protest was proposed by Mr Cocker and seconded by Mr W. A. Sheat, who said that a similar resolution had gone forward from the Opunako branch. “If we had a Government in office worthy of that office the need for a commission would not have arisen,” declared Mr Sheat. “Now that a commission has become a necessity farmers should see that the closest inquiry is made -into every aspect of the industry. An orde/r of reference without particular application to land and stock mortgages is incomplete.” Mr Sheat said he would like to see a monster meeting held at Hawera to ensure that the Government took notice of the protests of individual branches. It seemed that the greatest results were achieved by public demonstration, as witness the manner in which city unemployed had “put the wind up the authorities. ’ ’ For the sake of argument Mr H. J. Finlay said he would take the opposite view. Why should people who had retired and invested their earnings in mortgages have part of their savings filched from them'? he asked.

The chairman (Mr 'H. Hodge): But we must remember that many people are retired to-day on the price they received for their land when values were inflated.

Mr W. M. Barker remarked that if there had been no “monkeying” with legislation • the whole position would have adjusted itself in 1926. On the motion of Mr Cocker, seconded by Mr Sheat, it was resolved that a day demonstration meeting be held at Hawera, the arrangements to be finalised by a committee consisting of Messrs Cocker and Allan, and the president and secretary.

It. was suggested that as Taranaki was the most concentrated dairying district in the Dominion the Royal Commission should hold sittings and take evidence at Stratford, the geographic centre, and on the motion of Mr Cocker, seconded by Mr DM. F. Voullairo, a resolution on these lines was carried.