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INCREASED HOPE

DAIRY FARMERS DETERMINED CONFERENCE IN ROTORUA MANY MATTERS DISCUSSED (Per Press Association.) ROTORUA, last night. The conference of delegates at the National Dairy Association was resumed this morning, Mr. A. Morton, president, being in the chair. Mr. W, Grounds said he had spoken three times before when they were in the throes of self-determination. Notwithstanding the clouds .surrounding them of late, they were determined to look- forward with increased hope. The Control Board had without doubt rendered considerable help in a controversy in which the whole country had been immersed, resulting in a great division of opinion and some change of policy had been absolutely necessary. The board bad been lighting a defensive policy and had to get the critic wherever he appeared. It was not responsible for the trend which the controversy took. This criticism had developed too strongly for some, but not enough for others. Recognising this, the board decided to remove control, and to go in for limited control to strengthen the industry in marketing. It was impossible for him to do more than to outline (he board's policy, and to discuss the main points such as shipping, insurance, advertising, all information to guide those handling suj»-j plies and storage in London and New' Zealand, and auditing and super-j

vision of sales, so as to have effective supervision of results of different distributing houses. They had decided to curtail or suspend the board's original policy in London and New Zealand. That organisation in New Zealand had done excellent work. It. had been necessary to curtail the board's expenses in London, especially in work and premises. Tin' speaker recapitulated the statistical data of the board's operations. He supported the action of the Dairy Control Board, and said it proved a factor in stabilising the industry, claiming a substantial rise in flu; finest grade as the result of the grading system. The board was fully alive to the value of research work. A great demonstration of personal regard greeted the speaker, the audience singing the National Anthem. Two remits from the Levin Corporative Dairy Co. were' spoken to by Mr. S. Broadbelt (Levin). The remits, which were as follows, were carried: "That the Dairy Control Board be asked to investigate the position of small grading stores and ascertain if they are receiving sufficient jirodui'C to warrant their maintenance, if not, the board be asked to take steps to see that the said stores are not a tax on the industry generally"; "that this conference of dairy farmers views with concern the attempt being made to bring about increases in Customs tariff and asks the Government to resist the attempts as being against the interests of the Dominion, anil that a copy of the resolution be sent to the Minister of Industries and Commerce." Mr. Mae Donald, chairman of the North Auckland Conference, moved: "That steps be taken to urge the Government, to reconstruct the Dairy Control Board so that the board consist only of primary producers' representatives; that a copy be forwarded to the National Dairy Association and to all members of Parliament, asking that if legislation concerning the Dairy Control Board is brought before Parliament they will endeavor to have the principle of the resolution given-effect to." Mr. Mae Donald, speaking to the motion, said the trouble on the Board of Control had been caused by its constitution. lie maintained that no business people nor Government, representatives should be on it. They wanted the control of their own business. (Applause). Mr. Hingson, Bay of Islands, impressed the fact that dairy control was purely a farmers' business, and the farmer should carry it on. The remit was curried practically unanimouslv. Mr. Mae Donald, on behalf of the YV'haiignrci Co-operative Dairy Co., moved that the Government be urged to pursue ;i more vigorous roadiug policy, especially in the direction of improving access roads to farmers, as opposed to the great expenditure being made on main highways. He said that such a policy would increase the revenue of the dairy farmer to a great extent, and also benefit the towns. The Main Highways Board was doing a good work, but it was considered (hat the board was concentrating too much on arterial roads, which did not benefit the farmer as much as the tourist. The remit was lost. Mr. O. D. Morpeth was re-appoint-ed auditor. Mr. J. G. Brechin moved on behalf of the Bush Districts Association: "That in the opinion of this conference the dairy industry should be excluded from' the operations of the Conciliation and Arbitration Act, and thilt representations bo made to Parliament.on the matter." He contended that the Act should not apply to any producers, because -they had no chance to pass on the extra cost. The Act only worked to raise wages. In some cases one disgruntled man dislocated the work of many others. Many delegates spoke in support, one advocating a resolution to be drawn up, to be signed by every farmer and primary producer in NewZealand, which would mean some 70,000 signatures. Such a petition, ho said, presented to Parliament must have weight. It was generally recognised that a , uniform consolidated front was necessary to make any impression that the Arbitration Court had never done the primary producers any good. The remit was carried with one dissentient only. Lectures were given by Mr. YV. M. Singleton, Director of the Dairy Division, on "Some Aspects of the Dairy Industry," and by Mr. B. Kennedy, the association's solicitor. Both lectures were fully attended. An address by Mr. P. O. Vealc, 8.A.. M.Sc, Scientist to the Federation'of the Taranaki Co-operative Dairy Factories on "Some Factors influencing the Efficiency of Dairy Factories," was followed by much questioning, the session closing late.

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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/PBH19270624.2.115

Bibliographic details

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16375, 24 June 1927, Page 9

Word Count
955

INCREASED HOPE Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16375, 24 June 1927, Page 9

INCREASED HOPE Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16375, 24 June 1927, Page 9