HOME AGENT FUND.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 574, 31 July 1909, Page 8

HOME AGENT FUND.

OFFICIAL REPORT. : At the recent meetings of dairy factory the following- report,. drawn up by the directors of the-■'# ntipnal Dairy Association, in conjunction with representatives of-contributing factories, has been rciuh-r----"Tho'correspondence from the Home agent reveals tho fact that his time was very largely taken'up with a supervision ol and inquiry .into the'manner in which our produce was handled and placed-on tho Homo liinrkot. It was ' also shown that a ■ great deal of information,of 'a general character has been received, together with most valuable communications of a confidential nature which could not .well be disclosed to factories, but which, notwithstanding, must liuvo been of groat assistance to tho directors and tho local office. It has also been amply proved that in tho matter of indenting supplies for factories, manures for shareholders, and in other respects, the Home- agent has been able to render good service.' "Although only ten companies have consigned their produco through . tho association for the whole of tho last'export-sea-ion, tho' statement of accounts, from tho Home agent's office, for that period already shows that out of rebates of commission and other charges' there was on April 30 last a profit of over : £500. The direct, benefit of tho Home office is thus mado clear, but tho indirect benefit.which' must result from a proper supervision of tho handling and methods of distribution is of infinitely greater valuo, than the. savings in charges. Wo think that' the selection of firms was a wise one, and that those firms were capable of properly and carefully handling all tho produco that was sent to them. "Tho'method, of raising the-Home'agent fund has been by levying a contribution of 2s. Gd. per ton on tho output of butter factories and Is. 3d. per tori on-cheese. Wo think that, as practically all tho companies havo benefited and must continue to benefit by the appointment of a Home representative, that tho contributions should be'mado moro universal, thus largely reducing the amount .levied from individual companies. ~ "Wo therefore beg to reebmmond :• (1) That it be impressed on all dairy; companies the absolute necessity of taking immediate steps to appoint a Home representative for a further-term of three years; (2) that .tho Jcvy'on companies to cover-the cost of the appointment bo at-the rate of Is. 3d.,per ton. on the output of ! butter factories and 7jd. per ton on the. output of. cheese factories.. Your committeo thinks that this levy should be, quito sufficient to maintain', tho'Homo office, provided that a largely increased number of. companies are willing to'.join." _ . The meeting passed A resolution approvjng of, the .scheme, and strongly recommending factories to support it. .'