The Waikato Times With which is Incorporated The Waikato Argus. SATURDAY, OCTOBER, 7, 1922. DAIRY PRODUCE CONTROL

Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15061, 7 October 1922, Page 4

The Waikato Times With which is Incorporated The Waikato Argus. SATURDAY, OCTOBER, 7, 1922. DAIRY PRODUCE CONTROL

The proposals oontained in the Dairy Produce Export Control Bill, which was read a second time, pro forma, and referred to a select committee of the House of Representatives on Thursday, follow to a large extent the lines of the Meat Export Control Bill, except that no provision is made for financial backing by the State. It is proposed to give authority for the collection of a'levy upon all dairy produce exported, the net amount of which, after deduction of collection charges, is to be paid to the Board, while the maximum levy collectable is to be fixed by regulations. Details of the proposed constitution of the Board, and the functions and powers to be conferred upon it, were published in our columps yesterday, and indicate an intention to give the Board a wide measure of control • over the export, shipping, and marketing arrangements connected with New Zealand dairy produce. For the purpose of securing advances made to the Board, or to owners of dairy produce, full authority is given to the Board to give security over the produce, but the method of applying the moneys received by the Board is set out in detail in the Bill, and includes provision for the establishment of a reserve fund. No indication is given as to whether it is proposed to establish a New Zealand selling floor in London, this matter presumably being left to the Board s own judgment, and in all probability the Board may continue distribution through established London Arms of good repute upon a commission basis, as it is generally understood i that an Australian floor in London did not prove a satisfactory experiment.. One notable feature in connection with the proposals under review is the suggested collaboration between the Meat Board and the Dairy Produce Board with regard to shipping contracts. There is a provision that if the Meat Control Board resolves not to make any shipment contract except under an arrangement with the Dairy Produce Board, the latter should have no authority to make a separate contract while that resolution remains in action. If this course is adopted by the two Boards concerned it should result in lessened likelihood of dairy produce interests being detrimentally affected by meat interests in tegard to shipping arrangements, or vice versa. There is also the possibility that the combined influence of two powerful hoards may be found effective in obtaining from the shipping companies loss disadvantageous freight rates. The committee of the House to which the Bill has been referred contains a number of practical farmers and sound business men, who can be relied upon to give the measure a thorough overhauling before it again comes before Parliament for final consideration. As at present proposed -the Board is to consist of 11 members, of whom nine are to be chosen by the producers; consequently if the Board as ultimately constituted does not consist of the best men available the fault will lie mainly with those chiefly interested. There has been in the past, as is generally recognised, a very clamant need, for improvement in the marketing arrangements for New Zealand dairy produce, and the setting up of this Board should result in a' considerable betterment. It must not be overlooked, however, that as existing contracts for this season are not to be interfered with, the Board’s control of exports will not become fully effective until next year, and therefore the benelit resultant from its institution will possibly not be so obvious during the first 12 months as it may become later on. / i