DAIRY PRODUCE POOL

Southland Times, Issue 19522, 23 May 1922, Page 5

DAIRY PRODUCE POOL

BRITISH TRADE CRITICISM MB BRASH IN REPLY (Per Unital Press Association.) WELLINGTON, May 22. In reply to the cable message which gave a summary of an article by “Colonial Importer,” in the London Financial News, an article adverse to the proposed control of the marketing of dairy produce, Mr T. C. Brash, secretary of the National Dairy Association of New Zealand Ltd., writes; “The contributor to the Financial News practically accuses New Zealand’s producers of an attempt to work a paltry ‘confidence’ trick. He insinuates that the advocates of the proposed control are putting up a false pretence when they state positively that the distribution is to be done through the existing channels of legitimate trade. The contributor alleges that such channels will be used only as long as the New Zealanders will require for learning the distributing business, and then the present distributors will be swept away. This assumption and this accusation are absolutely contrary to fact. The whole basis of the proposed formation of a company in connection with commonsense control of marketing is a definite understanding that the produce will go through the ordinary distribution channels. Any allegation to the contrary is the result of misinformation or misguided imagination. “Another Press Association cable message has conveyed a resolution of the Scottish Provision Trade Association at Glasgow alleging that a dairy produce pool would ‘lead to loss of goodwill towards New Zealand produce and the diversion of buyers to other sources of supply. This resolution shows a peculiar ignoring of well-known facte. One of the great purposes of the proposed control is to make for New Zealand dairy produce a goodwill which does not now exist. Merchants have reported repeatedly that as there has been no continuity of supply of particular brands of produce it has been impossible to build up a goodwill. New Zealand’s produce has not had its proper identity in the British retail market. The remark about ‘diversion of buying,” is unworthy of any association of serious business men, men who knbw well that Denmark and New Zealand are the only countries that export highclass butter to Great Britain. It is obvious from the cabled propaganda that the opponents of the proposed control have exercised their imagination in search for arguments against a plan which promises a fair deal for the producers. Surely it is natural for them to desire some measure of control of their produce until it is sold.”