CONTROL BY STATE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20465, 9 July 1936, Page 10

CONTROL BY STATE

PRIMARY PRODUCTS OPPOSITION EXPRESSED BY FARMERS By Telegraph—-*iese Association WELLINGTON, July 8 Strong opposition to the principle of complete State control of the primary products of New Zealand was expressed by an overwhelming majority at the annual Dominion conference of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union to-day. However, it was generally recognised that the position had to be faced, at least in so far as dairy products are concerned, and in view of that it was decided to ask for the payment of a compensatory price to farmers so adjusted as to restore equities, enable them to carry out their contracts and generally bring their prices into a fair relationship with internal costs. As the basis for the discussion a Nelson remit protesting against the proposals of the Government to take complete control of dairy or other produce, as the aim of the Farmers’ Union was co-operative control of farm produce,, was taken first. The motion in this form was carried, only four voting against it. With only three dissentient voices the conference decided to ask that before action by the Government to take control of any primary industry a referendum should be taken to ascertain the opinion of the producers so affected and that the producers’ representatives should be consulted in framing the terms of the referendum. Following a further protracted discussion the conference carried by an overwhelming majority the following resolution: “While not endorsing the principles of State control of any primary industry for any purpose, this Union stands by the attitude taken up by the Dominion executive in its representations to the Cabinet in February last demanding payment of compen- ; sating prices to farmers so adjusted as : to restore their equities, enable them to carry out their contracts and, generally, bring their prices into fair relationship with internal costs with due provision for a rise or fall in accordance with the variation in those costs.” It was decided to preface the motion with the following: “We wish to make . it clear that in advancing our claim we seek no sectional advantage. We ask ' merely-for that social justice of being able to exchange the value of our produce in goods as expressed in terms of New Zealand money. This principle is set out by the Prime Minister in his statement made in Parliament in April when he said ‘when a man or woman produces a thing that has a certain exchange value he or she should get the whole of that value and not merely part of it.’”