THE CHEESE CONTROVERSY.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 November 1930, Page 6

THE CHEESE CONTROVERSY.

While no one will take exception to the desire of the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. J. B. Murdoch, to be impartial in judgment in regard to the controversy over “standardised” cheetee, much further delay in announcing his decision is bound to lead to a charge of procrastination. Mr. Murdoch informed a deputation of those who desire to see the export of standardised cheese permitted that he had asked the Prime Minister to ascertain at first hand the views of the British merchants. It is somewhat of a coincidence that at the last Imperial Conference the New Zealand representative, Mr. Coates, was asked to intervene in the struggle over control and price fixation in regard to dairy produce. It is to be hoped Mr. Forbes will not repeat the error of his predecessor, namely, of being indecisive. It is all very well for Ministers to claim that the matter is one for the industry to settle for itself. That was the attitude taken in the "control” controversy, and it led to dire results for the dairy industry and for the Ministers responsible for the policy of noninterference. There are strong views on both sides in regard to standardised cheese, but all sections of the industry agree, at least in theory, that the wishes of the buyer must come first. The Government i<s in the position of learning those wishes impartially and should act accordingly and without delay. Uncertainty of policy is always disastrous to industry, and the sooner it is ended the better for all concerned. Whatever

the Minister’s decision may be it is bound to cause disappointment to some sections of the dairy industry. So long as they are assured that' the decision ha<s been arrived at upon irrefutable evidence and is made solely in the interests of the producers as a whole there is no fear but that it will be loyally accepted, even by those who do not share the views to which it gives expression.