DAIRY BOARD AGENCY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19607, 8 April 1927, Page 12

DAIRY BOARD AGENCY.

COMMITTEE OF ADVISORS. CHANGE IN / PERSONNEL. IMPOSSIBLE' TO CARRY ON. NO INFLUENCE WITH BOARD. « Concurrent with the announcement cf the resignation of Mr. Stronach Paterson from the position of Government representative on the London agency of the Dairy Produce Board, advice has reached Auckland by mail ' concerning other trials and tribulations which beset the agency prior to the abandonment of price-fixing. It appears that Mr. Pa fee is on is not alone in his resignation, but that the three representatives of the Importers' Association, who were appointed as an advisory committee to the agency in November, had found it impossible to carry on, and in February had severed their connection as advisors. Three other members of tho association were persuaded " with some difficulty" to take their places. The original advisory committee which was appointed as the outcome of the conferences and discussions conducted by the chairman of the board, Mr. W. Grounds, and the London agency with the Importers' Association, when Mr. Grounds and the Prime Minister, Mr. Coates, were in London last s' ear i comprised Mr. W. A. Robinson, of the Anglo-Continental Company, Mr. A. A. Ellison, of the New Zealand Marketing Association, and Mr. H. G. Flint, of E. W. Mills and Company. Three months of experience with the agency, according to the advices which have reached Auckland, convinced the members of the committee of the impracticability of carrying on. While it. was admitted that in some respects the cpnferences with the agency were productive of a little good, it was statid that the influence of tho advisors with the board was nil and that decisions with respect to increasing or lowering the prices for New Zealand produce were made before they were consulted. It was for the purpose of giving expert advice oh this phase of marketing, in particular, that the committee was appointed. In fulfilment of tho promise made to the New Zealand producers that they would,, afford the board fullest cooperation. the association decided to appoint three other members as an advisory committee, the members who accepted office being Sir Thomas. Clement, head of the firm of Andrew Clement and Sons; Mr. James Gillanders, a dairy produce broker; and Mr. Davidson, of J. and J. Lonsdale and Co., Ltd. The information now available suggests that the experience of this committee was akin to that of its predecessor. Further light is also thrown on the attitude of England to the board's policy prior to tho abandonment of price-fixing. The retailers, wholesalers and multiple shop-owners were said to be v6ry antagonistic to the spirit of dictation exhibited in the board's policy, and were ignoring New Zealand produce. Instead of the gap between the board and the customers becoming more narrow with experience of the working of the control scheme, it was becoming more wide. The position then being created was considered to be not only very.serious for the producers, but also for the agents who had put up the money required for advances to the farmers, and which were then on such a scale that there was again likelihood of a call for reclamations. MEMBER'S RESIGNATION. NO NEW DEVELOPMENTS,, MEETING OF THE CABINET. [Mt TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT. J WELLINGTON. Thursday. Questioned to-day whether he had any announcement to make in regard to the resignation of Mr. Stronach Paterson as a member of the London agency of the Dairy Control Board the Prime Minister, Mr. Coates, stated that there had been no further developments. It was possible that he would have an announcement to make within the next day or so. The Cabinet met this morning and had not concluded its deliberations when an adjournment was made at 1.15 p.m. It met in the afternoon but no statement was made. I COMMENT IN LONDON. 11 1 1 * REGRET OF MERCHANTS. (Keceived April 7, 8.5 p.m.) Sun. LONDON, April 6. Although the Tooley Street merchants do not desire to comment on Mr. Stronach Paterson's resignation of his position as Government representative on the Dairy Board, they nevertheless regret it, as they regard him as the ablest member of the London agency. "If the New Zealanders are wise," said an authority, "they will seek to rec6ver their goodwill by cooperation with the trade. "Denmark sells her weekly supplies as they are received. , If New Zealand were to begin winter dairying, and then maintained supplies all the year round, and sold freshly on arrival of the butter in Britain, New Zealand prices should equal those of Danish butter."