DAIRY PRODUCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 27, 1 February 1934, Page 9

DAIRY PRODUCE.

MARKETING SCHEME. I STABILISATION DESIRED. EXPLANATION BY MR. lORNS. (From' Our Own Correspondent.) HAMILTON, this clay. "In view of the chaotic policy of marketing in England, this meeting strongly supports the policy of the Dairy Control Board and approves of the board's efforts to improve conditions to the advantage of the industry." This resolution was carried unanimously at a meeting of dairy . producers and dairy company directors held in Hamilton yesterday, when Mr. W. A. lorns, chairman of the Dairy Produce Board, explained the recommendations made by the Importers' Association in London for the regulation of the marketing of Dominion produce and the board's views 011 the recommendations. Mr. Dynes Fulton presided and the attendance was about 150. Introducing Mr. lorns, Mr. Fulton emphasised tlie importance of the proposals from a marketing; viewpoint. New Zealand had slipped back very badly in Great Britain in recent years and it was imperative that something should be done to improve the position and to recover the ground already lost. Ino Importers' Association was equally anxious to improve the situation. During the last few years, when New Zealand had experienced a falling market practically the whole time, the selling organisation in Britain became demoralised, said Mr. lorns. The fact tli.it one Tooley Street agent could approach the Dominion producer and toll him his returns on the London market were better than those of a competing agent was the cause of much of the trouble. He instanced one sale of produce during.his visit to London where a buoyant market had been adversely affected as the result of an importer "bearing" the market to get out quick by quitting an arriving consignment of produce at a rate which lowered the general price immediately. " Market Too Chaotic." London importers had told him, in effect: "The market has been too chaotic altogether. We buy to-day and find the market has been lowered by produce being offered by brokers at from 1/ to 2/ lower than the price we had bought it for." These conditions, added Mr. lorns", were decidedly of no benefit to trade. When things were down at their lowest it was about time producers and tho industry generally did something to help themselves. Continuing, Mr. lorns said while 110 was in Great Britain lie met no one in the trade avlio did not want something done in the matter of stabilisation. Importers were concerned at the way brokers were harassing the market and keeping prices down unduly. The dairy ; ing industry did not want a whole array of brokers trying to push the market down in order to realise a little below current prices. With this in mind one of the proposed new regulations had been framed to prevent a broker carrying on business where he had 110 legitimate right. In traversing the ten recommendations made by the Importers' Association, Mr. lorns said the board had not come to a final agreement 011 the proposals, but he had not the slightest doubt it would reach unanimity. The recommendations emanated from tho importers alone, and he believed they were advanced with the idea of stabilising the market and to assist the industry generally. " Quality Satisfactory." Referring to a statement which had appeared in the Press to the effect that it was a great pity the Dairy Produce Board did not concentrate its efforts a little more on quality rather than interfere with marketing conditions, Mr. lorns said, its publication was very unfortunate. The quality of the Dominion's butter was very satisfactory. There had been a fair improvement in tho quality of cheese last year, but in both products there was still a long way to go in this connection. Referring briefly to the subject of quotas, Mr. lorns said he would state definitely that New Zealand was the only country at the present time which was not dumping dairy produce at Home. The Danes had recently asked their Parliament to let them put into operation a similar scheme to the Patterson scheme. In reply to a question, Mr. lorns said there were 29 importers and 44 brokers handling New Zealand produce in Great Britain, the number having more than doubled in the last two years.