DAIRY CONTROL

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11686, 26 November 1923, Page 6

DAIRY CONTROL

TELEGRAPHIC BALLOT NORTH ISLAND UNIONS EN« DORSE CANDIDATURES. MR OOBBE CRITICISES MINISTER. Per Press Association. TE AWAMUTU, November 24. The Dominion executive of the Dairy Farmers’ Union has conducted a telegraphic ballot to decide from amongst the candidates nominated for the Control Board ticket who are considered best in the interests of the producers. Tho president (Mr C. Parker) announces that the candidature of tho following has been endorsed by tho unions for the North Island: Messrs Cobbe. Forsythe, Goodfellow. Grounds, and loms. ALMOST IDENTICAL. Commenting on the selection, Mr Parker explains that it contains no member of the Dominion executive. It is identical with dairy control, with the exception that Mr Cobbe is substituted for Mr Dalrymple. The latter is known to be interested in the New ZealJOnd Dairy Company, Waikato, which already has two candidates. The union considers further representation of any one company or province would be unfair; therefore the union excludes Mr Dalrymple from its ticket. MINISTER’S STATEMENTS. Replying to a statement made by the Minister for Agriculture, upholding the refusal to supply a copy of the dairy producers’ roll to candidates for election to the Control Board, Mr Richard Cobbe says be cannot understand the Minister’s present statement. Last Wednesday the returning offioer answered his request for the roll by saying: “There are only a few copies for official purposes; they are not available for general distribution.V Now, however, the Minister says two copies are available, one for supporters and one for the opponents of the Act. WHOSE nIGHT? Mr Cobbe adds: “Will the Minister state who may have the roll available for each interest?” He, having given evidence before the Parliamentary Committee favourable to the Control Act, can claim to be entitled to the roll, which the Minister says is available to supporter*. “The fact remains that the Dairy Council’s ticket has already issued a circular. How did they get preferential information? Seeing that the voting papers are now going out, candidates can only use the mail services to acquaint electors with their viewe?” The whole procedure, Mr Cobbe contends, is most unfair to all candidates outside the Dairy Council's ticket. He adds that, although a strong supporter of the bill, he equally strongly resents unfair conduct of the election.