DAIRY PRODUCE CONTROL BOARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18874, 29 May 1923, Page 8

DAIRY PRODUCE CONTROL BOARD.

TO THE EDITOR. Sin, —Early next month the conference of the South Island Dairy Factories will be considering the question of the Dairy Produce Control Bill. One reason put forth why wc should support the Bill is that the Meat Board has been such a big success. Can you tell me, Sir, exactly what, benefit has been derived by the producers from the establishment of the Meat Board. I cannot think of one important change either in the shipping or, marketing Of our frozen that has been effected by the board. On the other hand, the board’s expenses are mounting up steadily, as is invariably the case with Government or semi-Government departments. In this connection it is significant to quote tho following paragraph which recently appeared in one of your northern contemporaries:—“The board’s income is about £20,000. Tho first thing the board did was to send Sir Jessep to London, and what was the result? Ho discovered that England could take considerable quantities of pork and bacon—a fact which has been known for the past 20 years. His trip must have cost over a thousand pounds. • The secre tary (Mr Lees), whose salary is reputed to be £1250. is now in London, probably checking tho facts that Mr Jessep collected. A Mr Forsyth, whose salary is alleged to be £2750 per annum, is going to London as an official of the board. Last week Mr John Fraser, of the Moat Board, whose salary is said to be round about £ISOO, left for the Argentine. It will be seen that a substantial amount of the tax on the producers is being squandered in high salaries, and there is little to show for it.—l am. etc.. Dairy Farmer.

FOUNTAIN ORATORY. TO THE EDITOR. Sib, —Is there no law to prevent soap-box orators from referring in disparaging terms to respectable and honoured citizens? I am informed that every Sunday evening one of these “orators” holds forth at the Fountain, and he is not in his element unless he is attacking some of our prominent citizens. Last night the. Mayor (who appears to be e bete noir of this irresponsible individun l ), Mr J. W. Munro, M.P., and others go a severe tongue-slating from him. He has had a long innings now, and it is about time that some authority asserted itself to put a stop to this public nuisance. Even although he is treated as a big joke by everyone—for no one takes him seriously—it is unfair to those who take a prominent part in public life, that they should be subjected to irresponsible criticism such as is heard at the Fountain on Sunday evenings.— l am, etc., Citizen. Mav" 3a