MIXED QUESTIONS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24878, 27 April 1944, Page 6

MIXED QUESTIONS

PATRIOTISM AND PEICE DAIRY PRODUCTION (0.C.) MORRINS VILLE, Wednesday "I would like to suggest to Mr. Hale that he would get a clearer conception of what is in the minds of the farmers if lie divorced patriotism from price," said Mr. A. J, Sinclair, secretarymanager of the Te Awamutu Co-opera-tive Dairy Company, Limited, at the ward conference of the Dairy Board to-day. The chairman of the New Zealand Dairy Board, Mr. W. E. Hale, who was present, had objected to a proposal that all dairy companies should be asked whether it was their opinion that the increase of 1.21 d per lb. in the price of butter-fat was sufficient, or whether the industry should press for an increase. Best Effort Assured "Mr. Murdoch is right in saying that it does not matter what price is paid, we will do all we can to increase produc- ( tion,"' said Mr. Sinclair. "The two tilings do not go together. What is required from the question to the dairy companies is backing for the Dairy Board to press for the increase of 1,99 d to give the worker £5 5s a week and the employer £•"> los. Increased production does not come into it, and should not mix patriotism with price, concluded Mr. Sinclair, amid prolonged applause. . Mr. Hale had said he objected to the question, which lie contended was the equivalent of asking: "Are you prepared to produce all you can on the increase of 1.21 d?" H it were just a matter of the New Zealand Government it would be all right, but there were bigger issues involved. Pressing Need Emphasised "I would not be a party to saving we refuse to give Britain what she wants unless she pays for it. The question is all right for normal times, but not at present," said Mr. Hale, who had outlined the pressing need for more production. "It- looks as if someone said he wanted increased production without paying any extra price," said Mr. H. Smith, during a lengthy discussion on the reasons lor the reduction of the proposed 1.47 d increase to 1.21 d. "It was up to our leaders to see that we got the price." "We had to fight the contention ot the Stabilisation Committee _ that you cannot ruin New Zealand by inflation, said the chairman of the conference, Mr. A. J. Murdoch, M.P. "The dairy representatives could not refuse to produce in view of the circumstances," said Mr. Hale, "and all that could have been done to obtain the 1.47 d increase was done." Inadequate Prices „ After all the discussion, the proposal to circularise the companies was not put to the meeting. The following remits from the Tatua Co-operative Dairy Company were carried without dissent:— * ~ (1) That this conference considers that the increases granted by the Government on butter-fat and pig meats are totally inadequate to cover the rises in costs and to promote increased production, and resolves that representations be made to obtain a furthei increase in prices. . . (2) That the dairy companies in New Zealand btf requested to bring to the notice of each individual supplier the urgent need for the maximum production of butter, cheese and meat for Britain, and by encouragement or, it necessary, by giving financial assistance ensure that every possible pound ot vitally necessary food we are able iO produce be made available for export j during the war period. An earlier motion by Mr. Sinclair i that the second remit should be with-1 drawn in favour of an endorsement ot , the resolution carried at the ward conference at Whangarei was defeated. "HUSH-HUSH" POLICY COMPLAINT BY FARMERS MORE INFORMATION SOUGHT (0.C.) MORRINS VILLE, Wednesday The opinion that the farmers felt they were being let down by their leaders because of the "hush-hush" policy in the recent negotiations with | the Government was expressed at the ward conference of the Dairy Board to-day. . . It was most difficult to get any information regarding the negotiations, stated one speaker to a remit that the conference desired that the most accurate record possible should be kept of the proceedings in industry negotiations with the Government, and that those records should be made available to interested sections when desired. The remit was carried. The following remits regarding the Dairy Board were also carried: — That the board should^ approach the Government for a modification of the Agriculture Emergency Act to provide for more adequate producer representation thereon. That the board be requested to keep more closely in touch with conditions of supply and prices obtained for primary products by other countries, and that such information be made available j as far as possible to the primary production industries' representatives. FERTILISER SUPPLIES DESIRE TO EXERCISE CHOICE (0.C.) MORRINS VILLE, Wednesday There was a difficulty in the supply of serpentine rock and straight superphosphate, stated Mr. A. J. Sinclair, secretary-manager of the Te Awamutu Co-operative Dairy Company, Limited, at the ward conference of the Dairy Board to-day. In discussing it with a representative of the trade he had been told that manufacturers had large contracts for serpentine rock and this would not be used if straight superphosphate was supplied. The only hope given him was that all supplies of serpentine rock would he exhausted in about two years. A remit from the Morrinsvilie _ Cooperative Dairy Company, Limited, which was carried, sought the co-opera-tion of the Dairy Board to have the compulsory manufacture and use of serpentine superphosphate replaced with straight superphosphate < only, or the choice of either serpentine or straight superphosphate. REQUEST FOR RAIL PERMITS WINTER REST PERIOD (0.C.) MORRINS VILLE, Wednesday A remit passed at the ward conference of the Dairy Board at Morrinsville to-day asked for the assistance of the board in endeavouring to have rail permits issued to bona-fide dairy farmers during the winter months, so that they may not lose their small annual rest period. This was extended to include dairy factory workers. It was stated that some farmers had not had holidays for the past two seasons. The chairman of the conference, Mr. A. J. j Murdoch, M.P., said the- Minister of Railways, the Hon. R* Semple, had told him that this would be impossible on several occasions when he had been approached. STATE ELECTIONS SYDNEY, April 22 The New South Wales general elections will be held on May 27. Policy speeches are expected to be made in the first week in May.