ONE PRODUCERS' BOARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21233, 13 July 1932, Page 8

ONE PRODUCERS' BOARD.

The decision to abolish the Kauri Gum Control Board, which might well have been made long ago, en-, courages the hope that further "economies of the kind will receive serious consideration. Very 1 great savings would be effected by the amalgamation of all export control boards with, perhaps, increased efficiency if experts from each of the primary industries were associated with the joint organisation. The trade of the country is not large enough to justify separate boards for each exporting industry, and the economic pressure of the times makes their separate existence an extravagance. > There is no commercial rivalry dividing them. The aim of all is to make the most of the market by regulating supplies, safeguarding quality standards and arranging for the best terms for transport/ and distribution. A combined board would have the knowledge and business acumen of all and no interests would be prejudiced. One of the most difficult tasks of the larger boards is to allocate shipping space with due regard to the varying size, speed and route of vessels to ensure that the produce arrivals aro spread over each month as evenly as possible. There can be no question that a single board controlling all exports could perform it more effectually and arrange with more certainty for supplies of any kind to be forwarded in time to meet a special demand. Fo» instance, the Christmas demand for lamb should be exploited to the full and whatever supplies are available 'should reach London in time to secure the high prices which then rule. It is to bo noted that an effort was made last season by the Gisborjae Refrigerating Company

to catch this market, but the shipment did not arrive until December 27. In normal times it does not necessarily mean that the storage of export meat locally is contrary to producers' interests, but the fact that the quantities of lamb and mutton held in store each month during last summer were substantially greater than the quantities so held in the previous season, suggests that shipping space was not always available when needed. Indeed, a shortage of shipping necessitated the installation of additional freezing plant at Hofotiu. With one board contracting for all insulated space sea transport might be better marshalled and allocated to the better advantage of each product. If, for instance, information gave warning of a glut of apples in one week the board might use the space for butter or meat to the gain of all concerned. Apart from such marketing questions the amalgamation of boards would reduce administrative costs very considerably and levies could be lowered.