Larger Dairy Board Sought

Northern Advocate, 26 April 1948, Page 4

Larger Dairy Board Sought

“The Government either will not or cannot »iake lip its mind on the proposed enlargement of. the New Zealand Dairy Board." said the, chairman. Mr W. E. Hale, addressing the North Ward Conference at Whangarei today. He said the 1947 Dominion conference was emphatic that there should be such an increase in order to maintain an executive capable of handling the growing weight of administrative and executive problems. Main points of the conference's recommendations were:— “(a) That the Dairy Board be reconstituted and that the personnel be seven elected representatives. “(b) That the method of election of members of the board remain unaltered.

“(c) That the representation of members b S .: Northland 1. New Zealand Co-op. Dairy Company 2, South Auckland 1, Taranaki 1. Wellington. Hawke's Bay, Marlborough and Nelson 1, Westland, Canterbury. Otago and Southland 1. “(d) That in view of the fact that Lhc Government now has three representatives on the Dairy Products Marketing Commission, in future no Government nominee be appointed to the Dairy Board.” HANDICAPPED “We have taken up this matter with the Minister of Agriculture but unfortunately we have not been able to get any definite reply from the Government concerning its attitude," Mr Hale said. “It is clear that legislation will be necessary to amend the Agriculture (Emergency Powers) Act, 1934. and Primary Products Marketing Act. 193fi, and before the industry's resolution can be given effect to the necessary legislation must be prepared and passed through Parliament. “We have done everything possible to speed up the preparation of this legislation. “In my opinion the board is handicapped by the failure of the Government to recognise the necessity for a larger board in order to deal with the affairs of this great and. I hope, growing industry.” RANKS WEAKENED After detailing the considerable amount of work now being handled by the board. Mr Hale continued: “Today, with our ward conferences and our Dominion conference all dairy companies have a direct say in our industry affairs. “Through the Dairy Industry Council we have linked in with the board, all farming organisations, and we have secured unity of approach on matters affecting us. “The future of the board is just as big as this industry is big. “In other words its future is what we make it. If you ever get to the stage of leaving your affairs to other organisations to handle you will fail to give the industry the leadership it must have to succeed. “We are today a very small board, and our ranks have been considerably weakened since the beginning of last year. “It is questionable whether, with the considerable amount of organisation and detailed work that lies ahead, the board is sufficient in numbers to give full attention to all the demands that will be made upon it. “If the industry is united in its wishes I believe the Government must eventually approve the legislation necessary to alter the board’s constitution.”