DAIRY PRODUCER.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 89, 14 April 1923, Page 13

DAIRY PRODUCER.

QUESTION OF MARKETING. Our Wellington correspondent writes: The representatives of a number of dairy factories are meeting in Wellington this week for the purpose of discussing various questions in connection with their business, and Mr. J. B. MacEwan, the head of the well-known firm of export merchants, has taken the opportunity to place a number of suggestions.before them through the columns of the newspapers. This morning he has a letter in the "Dominion" summarising his views on the question of marketing dairy produce, and one paragraph from this contribution to the mass of literature on the subject will bear repetition. "Our great need to-day," Mr. MaeEwan writes, "is some arrangement by which New Zealand dairy produce can be placed upon the British markets at regular and short intervals the year round. It is delivery in this way that gives Canadian and Danish producers their assured place in the British markets. New Zealand butter and cheese, on the other hand, goes forward in large quantities in the flush of the season, in smaller quantities as the season wanes and then ceases altogether. The result is that for a considerable part of the year New Zealand butter is not available to the Home consumer, and in its absence he turns to other brands and loses the New Zealand habit." This, Mr. MaeEwan insists, has to be remedied before the producers can obtain what should be the full fruits of their labour. THE REMEDY. Mr. MaeEwan does not raise problems without attempting their solution. "My own idea," he goes on to say, "is that a small delegation of representatives of the various interests concerned should be sent to Canada, Denmark and Great Britain, to study at close quarters the practices and conditions prevailing in these countries. Such a delegation would be warmly received in Great Britain, and very substantial assistance would be volunteered. If a joint effort of this kind were made with the moral support of the Government, no special legislation would be required and the result, I am sure, would be invaluable. There is going, to be keen competition for the Home markets and it is imperative that New Zealand should not be beaten in the contest. Shipping remains a very grave problem, and it is only by co-ordination on a broad practical basis that the problem can be solved." Mr. MaeEwan as is generally known, was at one time closely _onnected with the dairy industry in Canada, and since throwing in his lot with New Zealand has visited both the senior Dominion and Denmark in search of information in regard to their methods.