COMMERCE AND AGRICULTURE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18565, 24 November 1923, Page 15

COMMERCE AND AGRICULTURE.

ty. Sir,—ln v the Hkhale of 1 Thursday, 4-a November 22, there appeared a > report, of nn address by : Mr. H. W. : Hudson, the President, to the Conference of? the As--1 Bociation of New Zealand ; Chambers of Commerce. In this presidential address, ; Mr. Hudson, in referring to the Dairy % Control Act, is reported as saying, " Our I Chambers of Commerce, as representing agricultural, commercial, industrial, financial and professional interests of the v.- community as a whole, entered : an unavailing protest against the adoption of s%'a measure wo '''regarded as vicious in principle and economically unsound. It ; <t: seemed a manifest- injustice to the 10,000 ; odd dissentients to . compel them to accept methods of marketing dictated by their : more speculative competitors and fof If; which they are justly apprehensive." rk These statements coming from such a H ; source may, if not. corrected, be received by the community as unbiassed. I ■y, should like to ask, therefore, in what way the Chambers of Commerce represent agricultural interests as claimed by Mr, #' Hudson? A farmer may be defined as one whoso business is to sell his produce ;■on the wholesale market and to buy his ■.I Requirement on the retail' maiket. How •:r; many members ' of the Chambers of Commerce tan comply with tho above . defini;M< tion and claiui to lie farmers? Probably hone. In regard to the alleged injustice done the opponents to the Dairy Control Act, whom the conference could represent better than it could tho farmers, f i this injustice could be no greater than i - has been done tho supporters of prohibition, the supporters of a defeated candidate at an election, or the minority of . : shareholders in any contested decision of shareholders of a . company. .So why should a conference, not representing i farmers v.-aii over .a, decision mad aby farmers concerning .their own business How o*«n two bodies, such as the farm- . ' ers who buy retail and sell wholesale, and the commercial interests who /buy . wholesale and sell retail view a matter from the same angle. 1 venture that less skill is tequired to make good by buying | wholesale and selling retail than is res' ■ quired by a farmer who has to produce \ at the mercy of the elements and then I ; buy by retail, sell wholesale and show a H; profit. Mr. Hudson' seems concerned \ about the drift of the cities. Might I ! suggest that the conference considers how ' its members may assist to stem this drift. f t Farmers are gradually emerging from i j difficult times. The goose, that has laid so many golden eggs for the, commercial folk, intends, before dying through a stranglehold, to hatch out some' vigorous |I; goslings. Two already have hatched, ; "The Meat Control Bill," and "The ifJ Daily Control Bill'' A . third which i will "require some hatching, . but which | if will bo a useful and sturdy bird, will I |' he " Limitation of Profits Bill." Farmers have improved their position for selling wholesale. They , would be in a better position for buying retail were the com- |?* mercial and financial interests required £V. : , to limit their profits to say 10 per cent, i'v on paid up .capital. If the conference V of Chambers of Commerce is really ser- :! k&. 'oils bout tackling the question of land i >-j'. settlement here is ;ah • opportunity for putting their own house -in order before j iy. concerning themselves with the farmers' ? M. ®de"' cf trio 'poisi lior*/~r.:-r '.'TA.' • Rikehs. fe,-.;:;,.- the position. ,• • RIKJSIIE. life . '