“ BITTEN OFF MORE THAN WE CAN CHEW."

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18016, 29 November 1926, Page 4

“ BITTEN OFF MORE THAN WE CAN CHEW."

LONDON OPINIONS OF DAIRY CONTROL. (Special to the “Star.”) WELLINGTON, November 29. In the course of his interview Mr Wilford stated that he had talked over the matter of dairy 'control with prominent men in London. The general answer he had been given was summed up in the expression:' “We had bitten off more than we could chew.” One man, not unknown in financial circles in the city, said the consumer in England was wondering what New Zealand meant by preference to Britain for their goods and at the same time combining for the purpose of making them pay a high price for butter. Mr Wilford replied that our farmers only wanted a fair price for their produce, and that any united combination among the farmers, which, by the way, he thought impossibly, was entered into for the purpose of fair marketing, not exploitation. As to his meeting with Mr O'Connor, father of the House of Commons, Mr Wilford said, “Yes, -we met, and were photographed together, and afterwards with Mr Amery. Before I claimed the title of father of the New Zealand House of Parliament I obtained the ruling of the Speaker of the House of Commons on the question through the Empire Parliamentary Association The speaker stated that the time served for that distinction must be continuous, and as I had been longer in Parliament without a break than any other member, I was entitled to the honour.”