THE DAIRY BOARD

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 425, 17 November 1930, Page 8

THE DAIRY BOARD

“TOO EXPENSIVE ■ TARANAdvI CRITICISM. | Per Press Association. ] NEW PLYMOUTH. Nov 15. The Dairy Produce Board was the subject of a remit considered by the Taranaki Farmers’ Union to-day Bit v-remit recommended that the number of members on the board should be reduced to five, and that the levy shoal.l oe reduced by half. The resolution was carried. The board had a reserve of £.>9,000. said Mr J. N. Blyde, and did not know what to do with it. The board was far too expensive. Twelve members were receiving £2O per meeting, with expenses- the chairman received £“io per annum’ and his trip to the Homeland had co’st £l4OO, and during the tune he was away the acting-chairman had received a 'salary at the rate of £75" per mum. The industry could not afford

Mr Trotter said the board should be silt out altogether. The secretary of the board received £2OOO. said Mr C. H. Sorrenson. including his expenses. It was time the costs were lowered, ur the whole thing •would be abolished sooner or later. The board as constituted at present was superfluous, said Mr S. dickers. It had been appointed to market produce, but at present it was merely acting as an agent in arranging shipping, which could be done at lower cost. Ihe board was not helping the industry in the way of marketing or increasing markets, and there seemed no prospect of any such things being done. Now the board was urging the Government to put an end to the manufacture of standardised ehcese. A tew days later a deputation representing over 50 per cent, of the producers asked that no such action should be taken. The position. he thought, was ridiculous. The industry was receiving some service contended Mr Benoni. While in the past the board had handled 000 worth of produce each year, in keeping an eye on produce and effecting economies the board was doing a goud service. Ho strongly favoured the retention of the board, if there was a cut in the salaries an.fr reduction of expenses. A board was necessary to look after the interests of the producers, said Ml B. Budden. but he did r»or think separate ones necessary for meat and dairy produce.