DAIRY CONTROL ACT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18519, 2 October 1923, Page 8

DAIRY CONTROL ACT.

CONSTITUTION OF BOARD. ' ' POSITION OF < OPPONENTS. ' MINISTER ANSWERS. CRITIC. '•, MAXIMUM SAFEGUARDS. TBX CORRESPONDENT.! ■ -■■ * ":•'":'■.■'■■ !;t '"f '. WELLINGTON. - Monday ":■...& Dairy Control Act and the poll :• that is now bfeing taken as to whether 11 ;'shall or shall not he brought into operation have been the subject .of numerous letters to the press. One of toleUerv : ; written by Mr. W.J. Freeth, of Noith - Tai'anaki, stated that there were persistant rumours' in Taranaki ■ that no dairy farmer opposing the .Bill would be elected 'to the board, - -• • "'■■ Mr. Freeth, who described the measure : as obnoxious and disastrous, referred in •his'letter to a promise said to have been made bv Mr. Massey that opponents of the Act" would get. their proportion of members, on tho board, and asked, the '"'Minister some direct questions on Which be desired an answer on behalf of. oppon- ' ents to the Act, The letter was submitted to the Minister for Agriculture on his return from tho South Island, ami trie Hon. W. Nosworthy has now dealt with the points raised by Mr. Freeth. . Mr. Freeth asks me, said Mr. Nosworthy, if I will honour the promise ho says Mr. Massey made him. Tho. Prim* Minister mad© no . promise such :as ha suggests. Mr. Freeth wrote to tho Prime -Minister a letter, dated-July 16, and to • this Mr. Massey on July 20 replied as follows— .;>''-' •-.- " I note the views yon hold concerning ; r the proposals, and I shall be glad to ac- .. quaint Mr. Nosworthy , with your repre- • - sentations, .As you are no doubt award .the Bill was referred, to a select Parliamentary Committee, which - commenced . .taking evidence yesterday morning." Government's: Power to Appoint.

On the question raised by Mr. Freeth as to tho constitution of the- Dairy Producers' Board, Mr. Nosworthy quoted tno Act, section 4, sub-section 3 of . which states:.'* The Governor-General may appoint one member' as the representative ; of persons for the time being engaged .in ' business as manufacturers of. dairy , produce or as sellers of dairy produce outside of New Zealand, whether as agents or on their own account." .' . This member may, said the Minister, . represent proprietary factories, and it is - recognised that their . output • constitutes /<t a large proportion of that manufactured '. by dairy companies which were in opposition to the Bill. Suppliers to those pro- , primary dairy companies have voles in connection with the appointment of. mem.bers of the board to .be elected by "the, direct vote, of the producers.'' .Suppliers --. to co-operative dairy companies} which are "opposing, the Bill have also the same '",. right :to vote in .this connection It .must be" obvious, therefore, that.m the .rights of ; those in opposition have been J, fairly/; and even generously \ considered. Furthermore, the provision that has'b?en .;, made for the appointment, of two members of the board by the Government is an additional safeguard for the interests of those suppliers of dairy companies that have been hitherto in •• opposition. It would appear to be practically, impossible ' to give greater safeguards than have been : provided.V" -'• '■■ '-'' r '■/■..• •■•,,.-• --~ ; ■ "' • The Minister quoted second .point raised by .Mr. Freeth: '• "Another matter v.": should like a ;definite! statement from ■■*/the l ' Minister .upon; before wo' vote.'.'. is '■''■: upon what system does .the board, mean ; to operate ? '".If-you are going to "control '"the ! market, ' will each " .. factory ■' receive ' their net returns, or will a uniform price be oaid on grade" note throughout New ' .' Zealand;?'',3;t':r.o;;U^C i '^/6,'/ ; ' &.-'■ " &l" : ;/ A Question for the Board. ■ j

" "-"ltt appears- extraordinary, "• said I Mr., ; Nosworthy, 'that Mr. Freeth" who, accord--5' ing to his letter, has put-this question to every member of the Dominion Dairy ? Council, should not understand that: these . ara questions, that only the board, should it (Same-into operation, : can answer.'l re's cognise also that it will be some time before the board invokes r compulsory powers if it does so at all, and. it is only then that,. this question raised by Mr. Freeth will nine up for decision. * • , ■:,:•- ;i-Mr;i Freeth, in his letter to the Prime -iiMinisWi t emphasised-the point that the - Taranaki- dairy companies have made a 'success of co-operation. .-.This fact has i been recognised by 'the Government, and *o such an extent that. facilities have now ■■■ ■ been provided which, if endorsed by •dairy - - producers , at v. the i forthcoming poll, . will onable that successful co-operation to :be extended to limits that in the past have been impossible., ' . SOUTH AUCKLAND CAMPAIGN.

fig RESOLUTIONS IN ' SUPPORT.

7>tf TELEGRAPH.— CORRESPONDENT. J :- -' ._ '{'".'■'•-.,'- ';" HAMILTON»; Monaiy. , -? Meetings have been held " throughout " the King Country, Lower ■ Waikato and Thames Valley areas doting the last week in support of - the Dairy Control Act The attendances .have been very representative, and in ©very ..case enthu- : H siastic support of 4he .proposals has been ;r : given.. Remarkably.: littlo, opposition ; has -been shown. <.. .•<--;;- ■ A ,,i,"- t "■< •-' .■" Mr. C. 'E. Macmilian, M-P., i who ; has •.been conducting ,a* campaignM>n the East ':-■ Coast,;.states he has held splendid meet- : ings, and manv resolutions in favour of the measure ' had i: been carried.- c, .HeMS now assisting .with the « campaign in .the ' '■'-■Waikatd. I _ ___ : __/ ::;,.;