DAIRY PRODUCE BOARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19663, 15 June 1927, Page 13

DAIRY PRODUCE BOARD.

I ELECTION AND MEETING. TO-DAY'S IMPORTANT ISSUES. "TERMINATION of pooling. JIR. COODFELLOWS PROPOSAL. 3Vo important issues in the dairying fcidustry of New Zealand will be decided to-day. Voting in the contest ia three wards for membership of the Pairy Produce Board will close at noon f success either way will have a strong bearing on the future policy of the board. The board also meets to-day, and on its decisions will rest the reinstatement of absolute control with price-fixation or a jeversion to free marketing. The districts affected by the election m Wards 3, 4 and 7, and etch ward js entitled to ona representative. In Ward 3, embracing South and Eas* Auckland, the retiring member, Mr. W. Goodfellow, i s opposed by Mr. F. Lye. In Ward which includes North, Central md Western Taranaki, Mr. H. D. Forgyth is being opposed by Mr. J. Hine. jr. Ward 7, comprising Nelson, Marlborough, the West Coast and North Canterbury, the retiring member, Mr. J. B. Thacker, is being opposed by Mr. H. f. Chapman. The election has been conducted by peans of a postal ballot and as the papers have to be in the hands of the returning eiflcer, Mr. W. C. Robinson, of the Department of. Agriculture, Wellington, by mid-day to-day ~ the results should soon be known. In many quarters a large poll is anticipated, the belief being Strengthened by the fact that the candidates have been at some pains to place their views before the producers. Recent crises in the operations cf the board fcsve also served to lift the politics of the industry out of the academic sphere into the practical. In previous ballots of the gairv farmers concerning control and other »atters affecting- the. industry, a conipicuous feature lias been the apathy of Bianv of those entitled to vote. Special business of to-day's meeting of tie board will be the discussion of two jpotions, notice of which was given at the last meeting. Mr. Goodfellow is to idvocate the termination of pooling as from April 50, while Mr. W. Bryant ■will move that price-fixing be reinstated. The two motions are in direct conflict as far as policy is concerned and the board is fairly evenly It is considered by supporters of Mr. Goodfellow that the issue will be settled by the votes of the two Government nominees, Messrs. T- Winks and W. E. Reynolds, and that Mr- Goodfellow will carry the day.

The success of Mr. Goodfellow will mean, unless some compromise is effected, that the industry wili revert to preeontrol conditions as far as marketing is concerned, the board being charged with irach duties as arranging shipping freights and charges, insurance, collection and dissemination of market and production statistics, and advertising. In the ranks of the anti-control section of the producers and merchants are many who believe the board can do valuable work on these lines.