THE SHADOW AND THE SUBSTANCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 December 1916, Page 5

THE SHADOW AND THE SUBSTANCE.

To the Editor. Sir,—Ta.ranaki cheese-makers were first invited to consider the possibility of a sale of their produce to the Imperial Government by a notice from the K.D.A., calling a meeting to be held at Kltham on Monday. Almost at the sa,me .time as this notice reached the hands of factory directors a further notice, issued by some three directors of the N.D.A., came to hand, calling a meeting to be held at TJawera on Saturday. The outcome of this bungle, or worse (of which something further may be said hereafter) was that both meetings were held, the Hawera meeting being probably the larger. At ibis meeting the Press' was admitted, and it will probably be remembered that the result was that d. per lb. was demanded, with other conditions, and a committee appointed to carry on negotiations, etc, The meeting, while practically unanimous, did not carry its demand without protest. One delegate voted against it, refusing to allow his name to buck up any sueli demand. In speaking against the motion, the same delegate warned the .meeting of the serious aspect of the shipping question, pointing out that the past season's shipping had been largely saved by the fact that the Government had an interest in getting Home their own purchase. The Eltham meeting on the Monday was pretty much an endorse'ment of the Hawera meeting, and the- committe went forward on their OVsd. errand. The errand failed, and at the meeting of directors again held in Hawcva after the failure to further consider the question, it was a' somewhat chastened and subdued committee which endeavored to explain the',failure, and the reasons which had induced them to reduce their demand from to B%d. per lb., without any authority from their constituents. Briefly, it wa.s evident Taranaki's price had been decidedly the highest, and the committee had had to climb down, and other sections climb up, to reach a common basis of S%d. The meeting was informed that the Premier had said there might be trouble and difficulty over the shipping if the Government could not come to terms with them, but emphasis appears to have been laid on this—that this was not held out as a threat, but was simply the Premier's own opinion; and that, moreover, he had undertaken to do all he could to get the cheese supplied in any case. This assurance, and the somewhat airy opinion of a member of the committee that directors Meed not trouble iljout shipping, as oven if ships did run short, the Xew Kealand Government could do as the Commonwealth had done—provide ships ■\if their own, would appear to have had a good deal of influence on the minds of those present. The delegate who stood tin his own at the first meeting is said to have stated that, while accepting oompletely.. the statement that the Premier did not hold out the shipping difficulty as a threat, yet none the less it ■remained as a fact, and facts were often more troublesome than threats. An umendment, authorising the committee to come to terms at any price from Bd. to 8%d., inclusive, met with a flood deal of support, but was lost, largely owing to the opposition of members of the committee; and the gentlemen were instructed to stand out for B%d. As all New Zealand knows, the B%d. was not secured. The negotiations fell through. Buyers came into the ina.rket, the market soared, and contracts were entered into at unheardof prices. Were not we right to stand out for our price? said the elieesc- . leaders. The farmers agreed, and dreamed dreams in their spare time pouring pity upon the few who urgei the wisdom of coming to terms with tin tiovernment. The dream is over, anc the awakening has come. True, man) have not yet awakened to full conscious ne3S—only a little more time is needed for that. Threats may be disregarded but facts are material things. The N.D.A. has notified a shortage of shipring accommodation, or rather an absence of shipping accommodation. There have been telegrams, consultations, and, of course, a meeting, and they have now asked a modest lOd. Wiser counsels were brushed aside. Only one Rower on earth can provide ships to take Xew Zealand's produce to Home markets at the present time, and that power is the British Government. The price of cheese may he 2/0 per lb. in England, yet of what use is it to the producer here if he cannot get his produce awav from these shores? And what is to be the outcome of this pursuit of the almighty dollar? Ts it to be a case ol the shadow and the substance, the dog and the bone? It would be an interesting study to endeavor to analyse the leaders of the dairying industry" in Taranaki.—l am, etc. IPKODUCER.