FREEDOM’ CHALLENGED.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 July 1935, Page 6

FREEDOM’ CHALLENGED.

A speaker at the reunidn of the Ureilui branch of the Fanners’ Union on Thursday, Mr. W. J. Freeth, drew attention to the increasing tendency towards interference with the freedom of the individual fermdr evidenced in the recent legislation for the control and. development of the dairy' industry. The particular point to which Mr. Freeth drew attention was a draft regulation now under consideration by the Dairy Produce Board whereby any farmer with a larger milking herd than ,50 cows will be compelled to Supply a licensed dairy factory rather than be his own manufacturer. It is conceivable, of course, that a successful farmer might desire to erect his own factory and export his own produce. Such cases are not likely to be numerous, and provided the usual conditions of grading and shipment were complied with it is possible to foresee the development of particular lines of dairy produce to suit a certain group of consumers. The small cheese industries in Certain Continental countries are cases in point, and the markets for them are definite although limited. It was, however, the principle underlying the legislation rather than its application to which Mr. Freeth referred, and he raised a question well worthy of consideration. It is how far can control of an industry be permitted for its welfare as a whole without suppressing individual iniative, skill and industry. It would be foolish to argue that the principles of co-opera-tion have not been of the greatest advantage to the New Zealand dairy industry, and there is undoubtedly force in the argument that action contemplated by any member of that industry which ■A'ould weaken the co-operative system should be prevented—by persuasion for preference, but by compulsion if needs be. On the other hand there is force in the other argument that a farmer is entitled to the best return he can obtain from the use of his capital and energy and he should be at liberty to take any action he deems desirable provided he does so out of his own resources and proposes nothing that will damage the reputation of the industry as a whole. The problem is one of considerable difficulty. It applies to any regimentation of industry whether by an organisation such as the International Steel Cartel or the New Zealand Dairy Control Board. The “greatest good for the greatest number” is a fine ideal, but individual enterprise has still its right to contribute to that good in its own

way. There can be no turning back from the co-operative system in the dairy industry. Nevertheless as a warning against the stifling of freedom and the transformation of co-operation into a monopoly heedless of individual rights or desires Mr. Freeth’s remarks are worthy of careful consideration.