DAIRY PRODUCE EXPORTS

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 17802, 29 August 1929, Page 8

DAIRY PRODUCE EXPORTS

TERMS OF THE CONTRACT. STATEMENTS BY CHAIRMAN. CRITICISED BY MR WIGHT. (By. Telegraph.—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, Thursday. Replying to the telegraphed statements by Mr lorns, Mr Wight, secretary of the South Island Dairy Association, states that while efforts were made by a section of the industry prior to the Control Board to get the Dairy Division to adopt “finest grade,” it was nevertheless a fact that it was only when the Control Board made representations that the Division agreed. Some years earlier Mr Singleton expressed the view that as long as the producers had no control for the minimum prices at the other end it was perhaps unwise to adopt a fresh grade, in June last Mr lorns himself was reported as stating that he was opposed to “finest grade.” Mr Wight admitted that the old contracts needed revision, but there was nothing to warrant the proposal to make “finest grade” the basis of the contract. If “first grade” had been left as the basis with a provision for extra price for the higher grade, Southern producers would support the proposal, but they would not accept a standard contract compelling them to take less than market value. With regard to the statement that 400,000 boxes of next season’s butter had been sold at a price based on “finest grade,” if factory companies chose to make such terms it was their own business, but it afforded no reason why a national body, elected in the Interests of the whole industry, should approve. The contract manifestly was unfair. Southern producers ’had no doubt that the object of the contracts was to force down the market value of produce, and that the Exporters Association hoped to get the assistance of 'the board to achieve that end. Copies of the contracts were forwarded to London importers, so that no time need be lost in taking action after the board had given consent. The Marketing Association was approached two years ago to join the Exporters Association, but .declined, and was not consulted about the contracts.