“CONTROLITIS.”

Southland Times, Issue 19502, 17 March 1925, Page 4

“CONTROLITIS.”

To the Editor. Sir, —“Controlitis,” in almost epidemic severity, is prevalent throughout the Dominion. One peculiarity of the disease is the limitation of its ravages to the commercial centres, the most virulent cases appearing in Chambers of Commerce. The only members of these august assemblages immune are those from the country, and these do not appear subject to attack even after close and long contact with their city confreres. The latter, almost without exception, are attacked with great violence, the disease running through a whole Chamber with lightning-like velocity. The symptoms in all cases are alike, apparently having their origin in a well-known and defined baccillus agarisus. This germ is known among all dairymen, having some years ago made its appearance at conferences of cooperative societies, especially when the Order Paper of such Conferences contained any reference to Dairy Control. On its first appearance it caused a brief period of uneasiness and restlessness, very irritating and disconcerting among dairymen. Each recurrence, however, was much milder in effect and latterly has been quite innocuous and harmless. In the early stages of its appearance Control of any sort seemed to waken it to violent activity, but latterly its power infection is confined to “Anti-Absolute Controlites.” In these the havoc being wrought on the cool judgment and sound commonsense of reputable commercial magnates is such as to cause the rank and file of dairy farmers to seriously consider how far they are justified in further entrusting the conduct of their export business to individuals given to such wild hysteria. The complaint seems to throw its victims into a state of panic. Men of wide matured business experience, hitherto accrediting themselves with infinitely better organising powers and wider vision than the poor cockie and priding themselves on their ability to cope with the manifold difficulties of marketing finance and distribution, are thrown into a state of mental confusion, pitiable in its childish impotency. In this state they pass resolutions conveying the impression of a sad lack of constructive ability to adjust themselves to a new order of improved commercial enterprise, resolutions which must appeal to their authors, when fully recovered from the passing effects of the epidemic, as the creation of a temporarily disorganised imagination.

The period of convalescence presents sights somewhat pathetic. Men of strong individuality and usually of commanding presence for a period appear to wear a look of shamefaced consciousness of a lapse from dignity. They carry on their faces a mute appeal for sympathetic consideration and forgiveness from their country cousins, the humble but enlightened dairymen.

The disease is believed to be well under control, and although spasmodic outbreaks in closely-congested city areas may be looked for, it is practically unknown in the country districts. Dairy farmers and their families, strange to say, are quite immune, although it was originally expected that in that field the greatest havoc would be wrought.—l am, etc., JOHN FISHER. Otautau, March 12, 1925.