THE DAIRY POOL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18687, 17 October 1922, Page 4

THE DAIRY POOL

SPEECH BY HON. W. NOSWOBTHY. THE ADVANTAGES OFFERED. (Pee United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, October 16. Reference to the dairy pool proposal was made by the Hon. W. Nosworthy in a speech, at Paraparaumu -to-day. Tho Minister said that the Bill which was at present before the Committee of the House was ,on similar lines to the Meat Control Act passed last session. Behind that Bill was tlto "one idea that New Zealand should be kept in the forefront of the British possessions overseas in organisations for marketing purposes. It would be remembered that prior to last Christmas the outlook was very black. The banks were called on at almost a minute’s notice for about £30,000,000 to save the situation, and that they bad done ■so, and done so manfully, was to their credit. The Government had surveyed the position from every point of view to see if there was a rift to be found in the lowering clouds, and he had been satisfied that there was no hope of getting any other information than that the markets were blocked with meat. He was not satisfied with the information they could get from London, and it was decided to take a step in a national direction to test the situation anti find out how things were. After a great deal of opposition from people greatly interested in the business, the Government had put on tho Statute Book the Meat Control Act, and it was not long there when it was found that there was no meat in the Old Country to block our meat, and that meat was rising, and rising, until now it was at a very payable price. The Dairy Pool Bill was only for the purpose of giving the dairying people an opportunity of having their own board of advice as to exactly what was doing at the other side of the world. It was also to work in conjunction with the Moat Control Board, to go to tho shipping people and point out that they came, not piecemeal, but united and prepared to make a contract for the carriage of their produce at a price satisfactory to the producers of the dominion. If they worked together they would be able to strengthen their position and make their national inheritance greater than it had been in the past. He considered that it was to the interests of shippers, as well as the interests of producers, that wo should have our shipments well arranged instead of fluctuating. _lt would be to the advantage of the shipping companies, the producers, and the people it the farmers got better organisation. If the achievements of Denmark, which was near the markets of the world, were due to organisation, how much more necessary was it for New Zealand, far from the world’s markets, to organise. One of tho objects of control was to see that the markets were kept regularly and evenly supplied, not to boost prices so that the people in England could not buy onr produce. The idea was to got a more solid makret. _ After all, there was no desire to interfere with the business, but to organise and keep abreast of the times. By such methods only could this country hope to compete with countries like Argentine and Siberia. Mr W. H. Field also made reference to the pool proposal. He said that the main question was whether there was, or was not to he a dairy pool. They were trying to get the Bill through Parliament, but it was possible that nothing would be done till next session. The dairy people had to make un their minds whether they wanted the pool or not. There were 50 witnesses waiting to go before the committee, apd if all were to be. heard they would have to be quick, if the Bill was to go through this session.