INCREASE URGED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 107, 8 May 1941, Page 9

INCREASE URGED

DOMINION OUTPUT

SUPPLIES FOR BRITAIN

•0.C.) HAMILTON, this day. Speaking at a conference in Hamilton of representatives of dairy companies yesterday, the Minister of Marketing, the Hon. J. G. Barclay, made an appeal to the New Zealand dairy industry to increase th'o season's output of cheese of 113,000 tons to 130,000 tons next season or if required by the British Government, to 160,000 tons. During the meeting me Minister, who was subjected to many questions, said the Government had adhered to all its promises. Later, when asked for an assurance that the Government would accept responsibility for the payment of ali produce in store, as well as ibat covered by the British Goveri'mem's contract, the Minister gave the assurance sought. The Minister said he took exception to a Minister being nailed ''.own te detailed questions and the answers used as a handle for 'if.ner questions. If the audience wanted to bargain, he would bargain with 'heir , .. Mr. A. J. Sinclair (To Awa-vutu , : Don. get a;- : nu v v.d. The Minister denied that he was annoyed, and said no one could give any definite assurance on any subject to-day. All he could say was that as far as was humanly possible all the promises he had made would be kept. The chairman, Mr. S. A. Ferguson. pointed out that the Minister was the accredited representative of the Government- Efforts had been made to obtain assurances in writing, and failing that, an effort was being made to obtain all the information possible from the Minister now that the opportunity was offered. From Farmers' Viewpoint When proposing a vote of thanks to the Minister, Mr. Sinclair said Mr. Barclay was too sensitive and was apt to take offence quickly. However, he liked him better than he liked Mr. Nash, for Mr. Barclay could see things from the farmer's point of view. Mr. Barclay said the stock in store position was now satisfactory and was much better than had been expected, there being 1500 tons of butter and nearly 10.000 tons of cheese less in store at the end of April than at the same time last year. Since then the figures might have still further improved. It was expected that at the end of July there would be 20,000 tons of butter and practically no cheese in store. The British Government's purchase contract with New Zealand for. dairy produce incorporated a shipping programme which ran until the end of August.

The latest advice received from the United Kingdom, the Minister continued, was to the effect that the British Government would take all the cheese New Zealand could produce, the quantity being extended by the Ministry of Food to 130,000 tons. However, it was felt that the Dominion could produce up to j GO,OOO tons, and this advice had been cabled to London. A reply was now being awaited. Mr. Barclay said the estimates were that 115.000 tons of cheese would be produced in New Zealand for the 1940-41 season. He realised a great deal of reorganisation and expense would be involved in converting butter factories for the manufacture of cheese and in erecting new cheese factories if this was necessary. In this connection the Government would do all it could to assist companies. It was impossible to say what the problems would be in six months, Mr. Barclay added, but one thing was certain, and that was that everyone in the country would have to bear his share in cushioning any blows that would be experienced by any section of the farming industry. Mr. \V. M. Singleton, director of the dairy division, said the effort to increase New Zealand's output of cheese to 100.000 tons would involve the working of two shifts in most existing factories and the reduction of the current period from 1-1 to 10 days. On the motion of Mr. Sinclair, it was resolved that the Government be urgently requested to consider immediately the institution of a compulsory war risk insurance to cover saleable commodities during war time. The Minister said he wotdd not give an answer to the request of the Dairy Industrial Council that the advance payment of 50 per cent be made in 12 days, with a final payment in i:i weeks. Shipment of Pork The Minister said he had no further information to give with respect to pigs. Baconers were not wanted at present, but a limited amount of pork would be shipped. The outlook for the industry, however, was "pretty black." Cin account of the expansion of the cheese business, as many bobby calves as possible were wanted. Mr. Barclay said. The meat was of no value, but the veils were wanted for the manufacture of rennet, while the skins were selling well. The Minister said he would do what he could to provide cheese factories with labour and housing. Mr. Singleton said that, where butter suppliers would not voluntarily change to cheese, they would be compelled to do so. After the war, those suppliers who had changed over would have the option of returning to their own company or retaining their association with the cheese company. A resolution proposed by Mr. F. W. Seifert (Morrinsville) recommended that suppliers on loan should return to their parent butter companies for at least one season after the cancellation of the emergency regulations.