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Otago Daily Times, Issue 19505, 13 June 1925, Page 4

DAIRY CONTROL BOARD ERECTIONS. to ran editor. Sib, —In your issue of the 9th inst. appears a letter signed “Absolute Control,” vtio, irom the tone of his letter, is evidently tne Alpha and Omega of knowledge in connection with the Dairy Association. He says that perhaps I was not at the association’s conference during the whole ot the proceedings, and that this would account for my bad blunder. At the conclusion of Air Motion’s address I was compelled lo leave. Lip till that time, from the very commencement, no opportunity was given for a discussion. The delegates present will bear mo out. As no report appeared in die daily paper of any such discussion at the close of the meeting, I have made inquiries irom amongst tnoso present, and find they are divided on this point, this being, no doubt, duo to the difference of opinion as to wi at cm an opportunity lo speak. “Absolute Control’s” statement as to an 0ppmi._...... i..i.ing Leon given at the beginning 01 mo conference is so contrary to lact that I decline to take him as an authority on the subject. With regard to my doubting whether the association is the proper body to give a lead, I can assure him that those that think with mo are a goodly number. He asks, whore is there a body ot men more competent V Competent? Take the balance sheet, which shows that £2260 was received in subsidies, and that in spite of such aid there was a miserable balance of £2OO odd. 1 have always believed that those able to manage their own aft airs most successfully are those best qualified to load others. He sayS that my anxiety as to the trading department is the one redeeming feu lure ot my loiuir, and well it might bo. The state, of the balance sheet, as shown above, coupled with the fact that the factory with winch 1 am connected has given security (happily not largo) to the bank to finance that trading department is the cause ot rny anxiety. What a pity that a little of that anxiety is not shared by the directors of the association ! It might bo an incentive to act with a little more tact and prudence on matters on which there is an acute division of opinion amongst the members. “Absolute Control” is not connected witn the Farmers’ Union, but has noted the good work it is doing. lie is not a farmer or £1 per year should not debar his connection. lie is evidently not associated with the vested interests, else he might bo able to toll us which is more concerned. —the vested interests about the loss of commission or the Dairy Association about the loss of the ii'bsidy from the Control Board, Not a farmer, not associated with vested interests, then perhaps ho is one of those who sit in well-padded chairs taking cooperation and not engaged in dairy farming, but in farming the dairymen. In conclusion, let me say that there is no division of opinion respecting the scornful terms in which the chairman of the Dairy Association denounced correspondents who write under the shelter of a non do plume. In the same of your paper appears a letter by Air C. F. Overton, in which he quite embnrasses mo with- the honour ascribed to me in connection with the formation o r the Co-operative Company of Otago. As (hero are over 20 corporative factories in Otago which are divided in their support of Air Bryant and Air Robertson, and ns the Otago Provincial Executive represents the whole of Otago, why should it take its lead from one of them—and that the last formed, and therefore least experienced? Air Overton says my statement that a clique existed is not correct. What. 1 did say was that I thought the executive’s action bore out the statement of one who had boon on the executive. Ho goes on to ask, Is it not extraordinary that after going to the trouble and expense of electing the best men in the dominion we should bo asked to turn them down? Wonders never cease. In face of that statement Air Overton assisted to put a resolution supporting a new candidate, who is contesting the election against the sitting member. Mr Hamilton (one of Mr Overton's best men in the dominion). • . . . Constructive criticism is wanted, IVlr Overton says, and would be welcomed. It is what I have been striving to give, but it has not, so far, received a very warm welcome. The insinuation of enmity is wholly unworthy, and I am content to leave it to the judgment of my fellow members of the union in Palmerston. I have the consciousness of having don© my hill© “bit” for the union during the past 12 months in spite ot the fact that the wholo weight of the Farmers’ Union was thrown against the producers who nominated mo for the Control Board 18 months ago.—l am, etc., Wm Lee. Flag Swamp, Juno 10. AIR J. A. lIANAN AND DUNEDIN. TO TUB EDITOR. Sin, —Without any desire to emulate the three’tailors of Toolcv I may say that wo people of Invercargill have no particular ' or absorbing interest as to Air Hanan’s political doings in Dunedin. Ho has been a good and faithful servant, and we appreciate all his merits, but now that ho has left us for pastures new it would savour of impertinence to suggest what Air Hanan should do in regard to Dunedin or what Dunedin do in regard to Air PI an an. , , . But m your Saturday s issue I here ap poarod a ‘letter signed “National” which contains one sentence that interests us very much. Ho writes: Tt would appear that Mr Hanan gave up his seat in Invercargill, so that Sir Joseph Ward might run.” It is 100 ridiculous for words. Air Ilanan is not of the type who would make such a sacrifice for his one-time chief—and the chances are Sir Joseph would not accept such a sacrifice if it were offered. It seems necessary to say this for the benefit of the Dunedin people who do not know the facts. To Invercargill people the suggestion that Mr Hanan would ever give way to Sir Joseph will appear too ridiculous for words. Indeed, the feeling is strong hero that whatever influence Mr Hanan is able to exorcise would bo very cheerfully given to prevent Sir Joseph from getting into Parliament at all.—l am, etc., Liberal. Invercargill, Juno 9.