FRIENDLY RELATIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 November 1934, Page 4

FRIENDLY RELATIONS.

The Agriculture (Emergency Powers) Act having become the law of the Dominion, its effect upon the dairy industry will be awaited with keenest interest throughout Taranaki. In this regard an observation made by the Gov-ernor-General at Christchurch on Friday may well be given careful consideration by the new authority that is to control New Zealand’s primary exports. Lord Bledisloe urged that one of the aims of the Dominion producer should be to maintain friendly and close contact with the farmers of Great Britain. It was sound advice, and referred to a phase of the dairy industry that has had insufficient emphasis in many of the discussions regarding future policy. His Excellency could speak with authority, for he has had just the intimate and friendly relations he pleaded for with the farming communities of New Zealand as well as those of the United Kingdom. His announced intention of using his personal influence to foster good and close understanding between those communities will be welcomed, for Lord Bledisloe has proved on more than one occasion that such promises are more than the courtesies that attach to his position as representative of the Crown. In one sense the farmers of New Zealand are rivals of those in Great Britain. In another their interests, if not identical, should certainly be co-operative. Unfortunately, when the visit to New Zealand took place of the representative of the English farmers, Mr. Thomas Baxter, a great opportunity of drawing closer that co-operation was missed. There is nothing to be gained, however, by dwelling on the mistakes of the past, but in shaping future policy realisation that the rivalry for markets must be friendly rivalry with Britain should never be lost sight of. If the New Agricultural Commission can foster goodwill between the farmers of Great Britain, and those in the Dominion it will find it easier to make marketing arrangements that will be satisfactory to both groups of suppliers to the British markets.