DAIRY CONTROL BILL.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 2753, 20 September 1923, Page 7

DAIRY CONTROL BILL.

(To the Editor)

Sir, —The necessity for control of the sale of dairy produce is evidenced by inoontroversible facts, but. such control need not divert one single consignment from the present channels of sale. The great produce merchants may continue to act for the factory suppliers, but will be required to consult with appointees of producers before pressing sales at inopportune times. It has repeatedly occurred before, and happened again this yea.r, that our autumn production has come into competition with the northern countries' summer output, caused a heavily fluctuating market and enabled shrewd speculators to benefit enormously at the expense of our dairymen. When produce prices suddenly or even steadily fall, the position requires careful consideration. A "rigged" market, a temporary glut or a passing panic may be the cause of trouble* Agents, who are financially strong and have command of cold storage are not always prepared to take the risk and holding for a rise, not eevn when, as on this occasion there seemed to «be no sufficient warrant for the drop. Some two months ago New Zealand cheese was Bold at from £B2 to £BS per ton. Prices improved subsequently by an amount equal to an extra five pence per pound for butterfat and the difference in returns would have been of great value not only to our producers, but to the community generally. A shrewd forecasting would nave remembered that the northern production was declining, and our spring output would be late, thus causing a shortage and a rise in price. Did agents in London show outstanding sagacity and act wisely in selling our produce on the depressed market? Under the Dairy Control Bill there will be a check on present methods of selling and for this reason it seems sensible to support the Bill.—l am, etc., A. BUCHANAN.