DAIRY CONTROL

Waipa Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 1608, 17 February 1925, Page 5

DAIRY CONTROL

POLICY OF THE BOARD.

“WAIKATO DOMINATION” ALLEGED

Intense interest has been aroused (says a Wellington message) throughout. the dairying districts of the Dominion in the published report of the overseas delegation of the Dairy Control Board and it is interesting to note what dairy farmers think of the position with regard to the industry generally. It was with a view to testing the feeling of dairy farmers on the subject that your representative approached a director of one of the largest dairy companies operating in the Manawatu.

This gentleman, who is closely connected with the dairying industry, and particularly the man on the land, made an important statement on the fueling among Manawatu dairymen. The dairy farmers in the Manawatu' districts to a considerate extent favour moderate control. He said they were induced to this opinion by the assurance given by the leaders of the control movement that the powers in the Bill for absolute control would not be introduced unless it was found really necessary after moderate control had had a satisfactory trial. Many of the farmers are indignant at the suggestion that is now understood to be made; that absolute control should at once he introduced. Such a course would b 6 regarded as a distinct breach of faith, and would be strenuously resisted. It is, however, recognised that the policy of the Board has not been declared, and there is a disposition in the Manawatu to defer criticism until the actual scheme of the Board is announced.

“There is'a good deal of anxiety in the Manawatu that the extreme reports that have been unofficially circulated sbou’d not ere this have been superseded by an official pronouncement by the Control Board.” METHODS OF ELECTION.

“One of the principal anxieties in the Manawatu. however is lest the whole industry should be dominated by the policy, of the Waikato representatives of the Control Board, which domination is made possible by the present unfair method of appointing members. Tlie appointment is at present made of dairy farmers in the Auckland province of six members. This, in view of the light voting that has thus far characterised the polling, makes it easily possible for the well organised section in the Waikato to dominate the Board. To remedy this it is urged that the North Island should be divided into six wards, each to be represented on the Board by one member. During the past few days resolutions have been carried in the Manawatu district urging the Government to take steps to amend the Act of Parliament in so far as it applies to the system of election of representatives on the Control Board.”

When the suggestion that the Waikato representatives might dominate the Board was referred to Mr W. Grounds, the Control Board’s chairman, that gentleman took strong exception to the innuendo. “So far as the Board is concerned,” he said, “its policy will not be dominated by anybody. The Board is looking at its duty not from a provincial, but a national point of view, and seeks to serve the interests of the whole industry and the farmers engaged in it. I dont’ think I need comment further on the pont.”