CONTROL BOARDS.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, Issue 205, 13 August 1927, Page 7

CONTROL BOARDS.

GOVERNMENT’S ACTION DE- | FENDED. BEST PROTECTION FOE THE FARMEES. (Special to “Tribune.”) Wellington, Aug. 12. A defence of the various contiol boards established by the Government was made by Mr D. Jones (Ellesmere) in the House of Representatives last night. The eost of the Meat Board said Mr Jones, was about £200,00 per an num and since the board came into • operation there had been a reduction in charges amounting to £1,100,000. He was not suggesting that the whole of that had been due to the work of the board, but a very big percentage had been. It had been suggested that compulsion was not required, but after five years’ experience on the Meat Board he was satisfied that an Act without compulsion would be valueless. The whole question depended upon how the power was used. “You must have the authority of an Act behind you,” remarked Mr Jones. “If you wipe out the compulsory clauses of an Act you might as weQ wipe out the Act altogether.” The Meat Board, said Mr Jones had laid down that no lamb should be exported unless the kidneys remained in the lamb. That was resented by practically the whole of the meat industry throughou New Zealand, but if the Meat Board had not possessed compulsory powers it would have been laughed at. The enforcement of that regulation was worth anything from £70,000 to £lOO.OOO per annum to the meat people. BETTER METHODS. When the board commenced operations, continued Mr Jones, meat business was unsatisfactory at both ends, but by improved methods of loading and unloading and taking care of carriage, insurance rates on meat had dropped one-half. This was because the adoption of better methods had enabled risks to be reduced. The*reduction in insurance amounted to between £BO,OOO and £90,000 per annum. As the meat was going to the English market in better condition, better prices were being obtained. Reductions in cold storage charges amounted to about £30,000 per annum, and the dairy people were receiving reductions amounting to about £20,000. By going as one body they were in an immensely better position as regards freight charges. The The board’s regulation of shipments was recognised as one of the most effective means of marketing anyfrhere. Wuen control was exercised wisely boards were the best protecGon the farmers had ever had.

The Hon. W. Nosworthy: Chey would be fools if they ever let it go. “Unquestionably; and they recognise it,” replied Mr Jones.