THE DOMINION DAIRY CONFERENCE

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 143, 13 March 1937, Page 15

THE DOMINION DAIRY CONFERENCE

To no other people will the Dominion Dairy Conference he of greater Interest this year than to the members of Cabinet. To be held next week, on the 17th and ISth, at Wellington, the conference will give voice to the opinion of the dairy industry as a whole.

The views there expressed will be of the highest Interest to the Government. owing in particular to the “guaranteed price,” and also on account of the State having infringed upon the dairy industry on many other phases. To quote but one, considerable discussion may be expected upon the butter-box question.

The “guaranteed price,” eo-joined with the “compensating” price, will undoubtedly provide the greatest discussion. No fewer than seventeen remits have been forwarded dealing with the “guaranteed price.” In the main, these contend that the price is too low, in view of higher costs with which the dairy industry is now faced.

The “compensated price” campaign is held to have gained very great support in the Waikato and considerable support, also, in the Manawatu. Undoubtedly motions passed at this conference must have a considerable influence upon future Government policy. Certainly, the state of the Home market being what it is, there will lie no demand for a free market for dairy produce exports. Almost with equal certainty it may be forecasted that a higher return than -is being received will be asked for. But whether by way of the “compensated price” is as yet unknown. Numerous matters, other than those of income, will be considered. These deal with almost every phase of the dairy industry, from diseases of dairy stock to fixing a standard date for factories to eud their year.

This year’s conference is open to the Dress, a consideration that will enable full reports of the proceedings to be available to the thousands of vitally interested farmers scattered all over the Dominion. Official invitations have been issued to the Prime Minister, the Ministers of Agriculture and Labour, and to many others officially interested in the dairy industry.

Deports of the proceedings and motions passed are awaited with great interest. This conference should be the most momentous since the famous

one of 1926, when some COO delegates “si control” policy was brought into being.

:ormed” Wellington and the “absolute