DAIRY CONTROL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22984, 11 March 1938, Page 13

DAIRY CONTROL

Sir, —Dairy produce is evidently destined to be the playball of polities and it is lamentable to read from time to time the diverse statements emanating from our politicians- In my letter of March 1 I asked the question from the leaders of the National Party, what they would substitute for the present s State marketing? I have my answer in Monday's issue, where the Hon. Adam Hamilton, in his address at Morrinsville, stated: "The present marketing arrangements would be retained, but any control board would have a representation of farmers." Surely that cannot bo part of his party's policy! If no change is regarded necessary in the present system of marketing, which is. definitely socialistic, then why seek to change our present Government? The Hon. J. G. Coates, speaking at a meeting in the North, reported in your issue of February 9, has a very different version from Mr. Hamilton. He says:—"The-right of the New Zealand farmers to arrange for the disposal of their own produce had gone by the hoard. Once the goods were produced they were commandeered by the- State. Anyone who was a dairy farmer or an agricultural producer did not have a soul to call his own. I can guarantee that Labour will go out at the next election," said Mr. Coates, "and then the first thing will be to give back to the farmers the right to ownership of their produce and the right to say what shall be done with it." These diametrically-opposed statements make one venture to hope that Mr. J. G. Coates has profited by the late Government's landslide at the last general election, and now senses that the farmer wants more freedom to manage his own business, with a modicum of security by way of a subsidy to compensate for the higher costs brought about by socialistic measures. Ex-Dirf,ctor.