“MAD POUCY OF DICTATING PRICES.”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18012, 24 November 1926, Page 5

“MAD POUCY OF DICTATING PRICES.”

MORE CRITICISM OF THE DAIRY BOARD. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON; November 24. The conference of the Associated Chambers of Commerce opened in the Town Hall, the president, Mr Mackreil { lnvercargill), in the chair. The Hon A. D. M’Leod, Minister of Industries and Commerce, was present and addressed the delegates. Mr Collins, Secretary of the Department of Industries and Commerce, was also present. The delegates were welcomed by the Mayor, Mr Norwood. Mr M’Leod said he noticed ■ many matters of importance. to discuss, and it would be his duty to hear their representations at the conclusion, ife paid a tribute to the valuable work at Toronto Exhibition by Mr Collins. Mr Mackreil trenchantly criticised the policy of the Dairy Control Board in his conference address. “ This year has witnessed the birth of an infant in our midst, ’ he said. “ armed with authority and powers which it is weilding in such a way as well nigh to wreck the household. When conceived by its parents,” _ he said, “ it was much less harmful than tt has proved since birth. It was surely teaching its parent* how to do things, and was quickly providing for itself a lash which would not only bring about its own destruction, but a family disruption, from which it would take a long time to recover. If New Zealand succeeded in controlling the prices of foodstuffs • sent to Britain, other countries would attempt to do likewise, and soon the Homeland would find itself throttled and strangled by the dictation of the prices at which it was to buy food. From Britain’s point of view _ the fixation of prices was economically wrong and threatened the very life _ blood of the country. The past few months of controlled prices of Nev. Zealand dairy products had been sufficient to show the attitude of the British consumer, and the disaster that awaited the Dominion if it still insisted upon pursuing the mad policy nf dictating the prices of foodstuffs to Britain.