THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1923. DAIRYMEN BEWARE.

Wairarapa Age, 24 September 1923, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1923. DAIRYMEN BEWARE.

Mr. Ben Roberts, in a letter to “The Age” to-day, sounds a note of warning that every dairy farmer in the Wairarapa should take to heart. Te Dairy Control Act, as everyone knows, will not come into foree until and unless it is approved by a ballot of the dairy farmers themselves. It is provided that the ballot papers must be in by October 17, and the proposal to bring the Act into force will only be considered carried if a majority of the valid votes east is in favour of it. The ballot is to be taken through tho post. A roll has been prepared by the electoral officers from lists of suppliers furnished by the 556 dairy factories, ami to each of the 60,000 dairy farmers on the roll a voting paper will be sent. Now, tho trouble is that postal ballots very rarely produce a large poll. Even the sheep farmers, when culled upon to vote on the Meat Control Bill, showed a surprising lack of interest, to judge by the number of votes recorded. Out of 4350 voters only 965, or less than one-fourth, troubled to return their voting papers through the post. The dairy farmers, if they are really anxious to see their Control Bill conic into foree, must see to it that they record their votes. If only one-fourth of those who wish the control to come feel sufficiently strongly on the matter to vote, then the chances are that they will be outvoted by the powerful interests which wish otherwise. Many suppliers’ meetings all over the country have passed resolutions in favour of control. That is encouraging so far as it goes. But it will count for nothing unless the individual suppliers make a point of returning their voting papers in due time to rank as valid votes. Mr Roberts has ssunded a useful and timely warning. It is ton late now to alter the method of voting. But there is plenty of time for individual dairy farmers to do their part by recording their vote without fail, whether for or against the proposal.