Western Star WALLACE COUNTY GAZETTE. FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 1934. THE DAIRYING DELEGATION.

Western Star, 6 April 1934, Page 2

Western Star WALLACE COUNTY GAZETTE. FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 1934. THE DAIRYING DELEGATION.

During the week there has been considerable discussion in the columns of the press -concerning the sending ot a delegation to England to investigate the position in which the Dominions dairying industry • finds itself. So far the Government has not agreed to the proposal. It is awaiting a recommendation from the Dairy Control Board, which will discuss the matter on April 12th, and come to a decision. All that has happened so far, as the Prime Munster has pointed out, is that the Dairy Conference sometime ago passed a resolution that something in the direction indicated should be done, and the resolution was informally discussed at a meeting of the Dairy Board held subsequently. Should this’body at its next meeting deem it desirable that a delegation should proceed to England, the Government will without a doubt act on the advice tendered, and give the delegation a proper status. It would, of course, have to be accompanied by an official representative or adviser. The Prime Minister has said that it had to be remembered, also, that the scope of any inquiry made in England would not be limited to the quantity of New Zealand dairy produce which could be absorbed there. Marketing methods, and reasons for differences in the price obtained for New Zealand and Danish butter, and for differences in quality,- would have to bo investigated.

A journal published in one of the chief dairying districts in the North Island, discussing the delegation question in a recent issue, said. “If the industry here persists in being blind to the trend of events in England and still insists on combating a policy upon which the English Cabinet has firmly determined, the delegation may as. well stay at home and save its passagemoney. The English policy of agrarian expansion is being pushed ahead with formidable vigour. The will to succeed in the task of rehabilitating and enlarging British agriculture is'the most

patent and potent element in British polities to-day. It is a thousand pities that we have hitherto refused to participate voluntarily in these ideals. On the contrary we have foolishly refused to believe that England was serious in her policy or capable of carrying it out. Her invitations to us to become a willing partner in her venture have been bluntly refused. The result is that she is proceeding without us, using the device of a subsidy in place of tho quota to which wu would not consent. The only escape from this menace of a devastating price-war is a. compact with England. Tho delegation must now be prepared to offer England the co-oper-nt.ion we have so stubbornly withheld. Tardy as such an offer is, it will be acceptable if made genuinely and without the appearance of reluctance. Tn place of the obstructive attitude which so far has been ours, we must now say : “Count us in as a willing partner in

your schemes. What can we do to make your plan a success If the delegation goes Home to fight, it will lose. If it goes Home to help, it will win. We have . already lost so much ground through a recalcitrant resistance to new developments that we have seriously imperilled the future of one of our major industries. 'ln proving ourselves persistently troublesome and tediously obstructive we have lost much of the sympathy which was once one of our most valuable assets abroad. There is an urgent need to regain our standing; but this can only be done by approaching England in a spirit of determined helpfulness. It must seem to most that difficulties are being anticipated where time will show'- that none exists. It lias not been definitely decided that restrictions are to come into force in the near future. The market is still open and will remain so for two years, and many things may happen before action supersedes discussion. In the meantime it is for New Zealand exporters to do their best. The Prime Minister has said that there does not at present appear any likelihood that the quota controversy will be reopened. , Hence, there is no reason for a pessimistic view being entertained. If our butter and cheese are kept up to a high standard, the consumer in Britain will he the ultimate arbiter of our fate. If he wants our produce, he will have to get it, -and the aim of the Dominion should be to . make him. want it. The cut in imports will then-have, to be made in dairy produce from Russia, Denmark, and other continental countries. . The demand that the-price of produce shall be artificially raised in Britain is resented by the . British dairying industry. If we increase our buying in Britain and supply them in return with an article whose quality is ' unassailable, we shall have created a position that will automatically remove all . difficulties. The consumer will not object to the price. The British workman will not complain of that if he gets better wages. as the result of increased trade. In the circumstances, 'there is little use in crossing bridges before we come to them.