DAIRY PRODUCE POOL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18223, 17 October 1922, Page 8

DAIRY PRODUCE POOL

ADVANTAGES OF SCHEME.

SPEECH BY MINISTER."

THE VALUE OF UNITY.

TBI TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON. Monday. Reference to the dairy pool proposal was made by the Hon. W. Nosworthy, Miniate* for Agriculture, in a speech at Peraparaumu to-day. The Minister eaid the Bill, which was at present before a committee of the House, was on similar lines to tho Meat Control Act passed last session. Behind that Bill was the one idea that New Zealand should be kept in tho forefront of British possessions overseas in organisation for marketing purposes.

It would be remembered that prior to last Christmas the outlook was very black. The banks wero. called on at almost a minute's notice for about £30,000,000 to save the situation, and that thoy. had done ao, and done so manfully, was to their credit. The Government surveyed tho position from every point of view to see if there was a rift to bo found in the lowering clouds. He had been satisfied that there was no hope of getting any other information than that the markets were blocked with meat. He was not satisfied with tho information thoy could get from London, and it was decided to take stops in a national direction to test the situation and find out how things were. After a great deal of opposition from people greatly interested in the business, the Government put on the Statute Book the Meat Control Act, and it *?as not long there when it was found there was no meat in England to block our meat, and that meat was rising and rising until now it was at a very payable price. The Dairy Pool Bill was only for the purpose of giving dairying people an opportunity of having their own board and advice as to exactly what was doing on the other side of the world. It was also to work iu conjunction with the Meat Control Board; to go to the shipping people and point oat-that they came not piecemeal but united and prepared to make a contract for tho carriage of their produce at a price satisfactory to the producers of the Dominion. If they worked together they would be able to Strengthen thoir position and mako tiheir national inheritance greater than it had been in tho past. Tho Minister said he conuidered it was to the interests of shippers as to the interests of the producers that we should have our shipments well arranged instead of flaotuating. It would be to tho advantage of the shipping companies, producers, and the people if the farmers got better organisation. If the achievements of Denmark, who was near to the markets of the world, were due to organisation, how much more necessary was it for New Zealand, far from the world's market#, to organise? One of tho objects Of control to see that the markets were kept regularly and evenly supplied and not "boos!;" prices so that the people in England could not buy produce. The idea was to get 3 more solid market. After all, there was no desire to interfere with businesn, but to organise and keep abreast of the times. By such methods only could this country hope to compete -with countries like the Argentine and Siberia. Mr. W. H. Field, M.P., also made reference to the pool proposal. He said the main question was whether there was or was not to be a dairy pool. They were trying to get the Bill thiough Parliament, but it was possible that nothing would be done until next session. The dairy people had to make up their minds as to whether they wanted a pool or not. There were SO witnesses waiting to go liefore the committee, and if all were to be heard they would have to be quick if the Bill was to go through this session.