DELAY IN ORDERS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 220, 13 June 1936, Page 18

DELAY IN ORDERS

Butter-box Industry Embarrassed

MINISTER’S APPEAL TO DAIRY FACTORIES

“Delay on the part of butter manufacturing companies in ordering their supplies of butter boxes for the new season’s output is causing a degree of apprehension among sawmillers and box-makers,” said the Minister of Marketing, Hon. W. Nash, in a statement for the Press.

“There are ample supplies of white pine, but time is required to cut and season the timber. The sawmillers are not in a position to cut the timber into the required sizes until they know the needs of the box-making companies. The box-makers cannot order, except in limited quantities, from the sawmillers until the dairy-factory companies have placed their orders for boxes. The attention of the dairy-factory corn panies was drawn to this matter on June 2 and the necessity of placing orders immediately was stressed. “Assurances were given to the Government by the New Zealand Sawmillers’ Federation and the New Zealand Boxmakers’ Association that, if factories would order without delay, adequate supplies of boxes could be guaranteed. Reports obtained from box-making companies indicate, however, that factory orders are coming forward only slowly. In some cases, dairy-factories hav© given, as a reason

for not ordering, that they are disinclined to do so until they know what th© prices of boxes will be. “I desire to make it clear that the Government has arranged for the Department of Industries and Commerce to make an investigation into the costs of timber production and box manufacturing, and that all prices will be subject to adjustment when the department’s report is received. There need, therefore, be no hesitancy on the.parc of the dairy-factory companies in placing their orders for boxes without further delay. In fact, if they do not do so promptly, there will be a shortage. “I know,” Mr. Nash added, “that directors of dairy factories will realise their responsibility to ensure that an. adequate supply of boxes is available and I trust that they will accept this responsibility by placing orders for their full requirements at once.”