DAIRY CONTROL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19845, 20 May 1927, Page 7

DAIRY CONTROL

THE RECENT FLUTTER Cabinet Minister Makes Plea for Mr Coates UNFAIR CRITICISM. [Per Press Association * WHANGAREI, May ID. In dealing with the dairy produce control question at Whangarei to-night, the Hon. J. A. Young outlined the history of events leading up to the passing of the legislation in 1923, and explained the subsequent amendments to the Act of 1924 and 1926. The policy of the Government was not against the right of dairy farmers to co-operate and control the marketing of their own produce, he said, quoting the Prime Minister’s telegram to the Hon. Downie Stewart last October, which he stated that he had advised & London deputation of importers, blenders, multiple shopkeepers, wholesale provision merchants and retailers that the control policy was definitely settled and would continue. They had replied that they recognised this position and declared their desire t© work in the interests of the New Zealand dairy trade at the London end. It was not anticipated that complete control would be exercised in the early stages of the Board’s work. One of the first acts of the Board, however, after its constitution, was to give notice of its intention to put into operation complete control, and when fears were expressed that this was unwise and the Board might go too far, then it definitely stated that it had no intention of price-fixing. Price-fixing Policy. The surprise came, went on Mr Young, when at the beginning of its i first season on the London market a policy of price-fixing was adopted. This seemingly had caused consternation in commercial circles, not only in the Dominion but also in Britain, and among a section of the dairy producers of the Dominion, and it was urged that the Board was too inexperienced to make a success of the new policy. From that out the Board met with nothing but trouble, and eventually price-fixing was dropped.

The after-effect had been to cause a great deal of ill-feeling, misunderstanding and misrepresentation of the attitude of the Government and the Prime Minister. The whole question required to be considered quietly and coolly, without any appeal to political prejudice. What remained to be done was to meet the situation ♦ fairly and squarely and proceed to do those things which iiT the judgment of those concerned were calculated to regain th( goodwill of the customers for dairy produce in Great Britain.

There had been misunderstanding ii London during the Prime Minister’s visit last year co attend the Imperial Conference, but Mr Young stated that while dairy matters occupied an important part of the Prime Minister’s thoughts, they could not be regarded as the only matters of importance claiming his attention. It therefore seemed hardly fair that Mr W. Grounds or others should create the impression that Mr Coates did not accord Mr Grounds more attention than he did. Creating 111-Feeling. Duo allowance should be made for Mr Grounds’ anxiety in this matter, as he went to England for the one purpose as his mind was filled with the matter of the butter and cheese sitution. Consequently he was apt to misjudge the attitude of the Prime Minister. That had been deliberately used in some quarters to create ili-feeling against the Prime Minister, and it was very unfair. Mr Coates, as a keen observer, noticed the situation .n London and telegraphed his impression to the Government, and as a result had been blamed for doing so, especially when, in addition to mentioning that he had informed the deputation th it control was the settled and definite policy and would continue, he stated he was strongly convinced that it would be a great mistake to attempt anything in the nature of minimum price-fixing The Board might or migbe not have made a mistake, buc even though it had, it would be unwise and unfair of the dairy farmers to condemn th© Board out of sight. -If there were any dairy farmers dissatisfied with the Board they should realise that the unfortunate experience, although costly, had been valuable to the Board and the industry. The Board needed the sympathy and the friendly help of every well-wisher of the dairy industry. The costs of its mistakes, if any, should not be allowed to be made a poltical vendetta against Mr Coates, who himself was a farmer and a true friend of the producer. All he asked was that all should pull together to assist the producers and the country, and give the Government credit for being sincere and anxious to do the fair thing.