TWO GROUPS OR ONE?

Taranaki Daily News, 28 October 1935, Page 11

TWO GROUPS OR ONE?

DAIRY MARKETING PLAN ALTERNATIVES BEFORE TARANAKI. QUESTION OF LOCAL POLITICS. The question whether there shall be one or two groups in Taranaki under the dairy .produce group marketing scheme engaged the attention of a meeting called at Stratford on Saturday by the Dairy Board to hear an address by Mr. .. H. E. Davis, London manager of the board. The present proposal is that there shall be two pools in Taranaki, one for produce shipped from Patea and the other for produce shipped through New Plymouth. The question whether there should be one group and one executive controlling the pools or one group and an executive for each of North and South Taranaki, the meeting was told, would be one for decision by the industry in Taranaki. ' The suggestion was made that there be one export quality because finest cheese did not always command a premium. Mr. A. Linton, ward member of the Dairy Board, said the board, had not decided that point. For local marketing it was suggested that only one quality be used, and the board would meet distributors on the matter. It was thought that 92 or more be finest grade for local marketing. A premium would apply to groups only. The board had decided to put the question of one or two Tara- " naki groups to the industry. There would probably be two unless a majority of the vote of companies sending produce through each port favoured one group. There would have to be a majority in respect of each port—not a combined majority. If south voted for one executive and north for two or vice versa, there would be two. If both favoured one group there would be one.' “What advantage would there be in two groups?” Mr. T. T. Murray asked. There were the two aspects, Mr. Lin-, ton replied. There would be two pools and the question of groups would be left to Taranaki. “All the South Island will be under one group and will ship through several ports, so why not 'the same for Taranaki?” Mr. Murray asked. Mr. Linton did not answer. The secretary of the board, Mr. T. C. A. Brash, said the board felt there should be two pools.

Mr. Murray insisted on an answer to his question about the groups. “Well, frankly,- because of the differences of opinion between North and’ South Taranaki,” Mr. Linton admitted. Mr. Murray: Pure sentiment. It should be washed right put. One difference was that the north was’ essentially butter producing and the south cheese producing, said Mr. Sutton.

“Is there any advantage in one group,” Mr. H. E. Blyde asked.

“It is a question of local politics,” said Mr. Linton, “but the closer you get together the better. But if there are likely to be sectional differences then take the alternative. You want to avoid disscussion. If you can avoid it by having two groups in the first place you will probably come together in the long run. A group becomes more powerfulthe more produce it handles.” I /