DAIRY PRODUCE CONTROL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18950, 23 February 1925, Page 11

DAIRY PRODUCE CONTROL.

BOARD'S ABSOLUTE POWER. THE SOUTHERN PROTEST. [BY TELEGRAPH. OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] DUNEDIN, Saturday, At the meeting of dairy producers and manufacturers called by tho Otago Dairy Producers and Manufacturers' Association, to discuss the question whether the Dairy Control Board should have complete control or partial control of tho industry, Mr. John McCauJey, president-, said the Meat Control Board, which was elected when the New Zealand meat trade was in a very bad way, had, by regulating shipments, advertising and conferring with export firms doing business in New Zealand, placed the meat trade on a veiy sound footing. The board had power to secure complete control, and had a promise of financial backing from the t'evernment. It ho' 1 not considered it recessary or wise to exercise its full powers, nor could it do so without Government consent. Mr. W.. Lee said that he was a strong believer in f.o.b. sales, and it seemed to him that tbe Control Board would develop into a sort of "Goodfellow" company. They were only able to get the prices that they had been doing because of the f.o.b. sales in the spring. The' Dairy Control Board should follow on the safe lines laid down by the Meat Board. Mr. Bowman said that if the board took control, advances would be lass than previously, owing to big storage charges. Mr. Clark said that the most dangerous feature of the scheme was that it would take control out of the hands of the men who understood tho position, and place it with farmers, who were not bur-i ncss men. Mr. Mason said tho bill bad been passed through tbe House "on a confidence trick. ' He contended that it bad been stated, when evidence had been taken, that the compulsory clauses would not come into operation until three years after the measure was passed. That assurance bad been given by tbe Minister. Mr. Mason then moved his motion against absolute control, and it was carried.