DAIRY BOARD DISCLOSURES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19474, 2 November 1926, Page 8

DAIRY BOARD DISCLOSURES.

Disclosures published to-day, made by a member of the Daily Produce Board, show that the policy and proceedings of that body have brought the industry into a crisis, the magnitude of which it has not been possible previously to realise. The facts, net out. not by second-hand com ment or on hearsay evidence, but from the text of messages sent by participants in London, including the Prime Minister, justify every dairy farmer in New Zealand asking what is being done with his liveli hood and the fruit of his labours. The whole trade in London has been antagonised. The deputation which met Mr. Coates reveals by its composition how widespread is the feeling against New Zealand butter and cheese. The word boycott shows that recent market fluctuations are attributable not to over-supply, but to the practical consequences of | antagonism in all branches of the trade. There are quarrels, or, at the lightest, sharp divisions of opinion in the London office of the board. Even so great a stalwart as Mr. Grounds admits that all is not well. The Prime Minister speaks of the urgency of action. Mr. Stronach Paterson mentions the word disaster. This business has been going on since the beginning of October. By what right has it been concealed from the producers, the men who are most vitally concerned? By what right has it been left to one member of the board, acting independently and unofficially, to make it public > What steps has the board taken toward the decisive action demanded from London ? It announced recently that it had abandoned price-fixirg. Mr. Timpany says it has merely changed the name to something else. This statement, added to others previously made, indicates that the board created a wrong impression of what it had actually done. The actual position is too plainly revealed to be read in any way but one. It is too serious for temporising or half measures. New Zealand dairy produce is in disfavour in London, and the price is being directly affected by the feeling of the trade against it. For this the board is directly responsible. It has two courses. It is committed to what is known as abso lute control only by its own decision. It is competent at any time to recede, to content itself with a reasonable degree of supervision over shipment, such as the Meat Control Board exercises. It may now be said, with a full sense of responsibility, that that is the wisest, most certain, course it could follow to extricate itself from the ugly posi tion into which it has [rifted. If it declines to do so, it takes upon itself a very serious responsibility. It is bound to do everything in its power to re-establish good feeling in London, to restore New Zealand butter and cheese to that position in the market it has temporarily lost. Out of the conflicting sets of advice it has received by cable it must devise a policy to safeguard the producers, to whom these commodities belong, on whose behalf the highest price de served by quality must be obtained. What is done must be done quickly. Delay means further loss to men who cannot afford it and must not be allowed to incur it. If the position is not rectified, the board will have to face a day of reckoning, and should be made to answer to the full. No more temporising, such as is revealed by to-day's disclosures, can be permitted to menace the liveli hood of those whose well-being is in. the hands of the JDairy Produce l Board.