DAIRY CONTROL BOARD

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 9 June 1927, Page 8

DAIRY CONTROL BOARD

(To the Editor)

: gir,~A's an election to the above board takes places this month, 'and much misrepresentation has been circulated by those who have benefited under the old conditions, mainly at the dairy farmers' expense, I would crave a little space to state a few points for the information of my fellow farmers. Upon the result of.this election depends whether the ' vital principle of ''co-operative marketing" by the dairymen shall continue. Mr Goodfellow (a member of the board) who'has just returned from London states "that the board's system of mar-, keting was absolutely sound, there had been no inconvenient fixing of prices; the statistical position of butter was. such that the buyers must have operated if the board's policy had been maintained." Briefly put the present .position has been brought about by the intrigues and misrepresentations of the dairy farmers' exploiters, ably seconded 'by men within the board. In my opinion the heavy losses the dairymen have sustained have been caused mainly "owing to \he constitution of the board. Out of 12 members the Government ' nominate 3, or 25 per cent. But the greatest evil has been the appointment •of'Mr. Patterson, by the Government, to the London Agency. He has pever .disguised his hostility to the board's policy. The- result of all this outside in- . terference has been a heavy financial Joss to the dairyman, and a corresponding gain to the London speculator. WJiere does the bulk of the opposition to tho control of the industry by the producer come from? Not the farmer, but*, anonymous interested people who stand to lose their speculative profits because of the board's control. If mass

production and combination are neces--I'sary in manufacture and commerce, then combination is doubly necessary for the farmer whose industry is unprotected. You are at the "parting of Ihe ways." . On your decision to vote for or against • th'e'. Dairy Board's policy depends whether you as farmers shall control your own business or leave yourselves, as in the past, at the mercy of every ...gireedy specula'tor. If you support the board then we can insist on the elimination of all outside interference. Get rid of the nominee menfbers, have a purely;j elective producers' board and really control our own business. I am, etc.,

GRIMSDALE ANDERSON, Pelorus, 4tb June.