EFFECTING ECONOMY

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 134, 4 December 1930, Page 11

EFFECTING ECONOMY

DAIRY BOARD CUTS SALARIES

Kegrcfc was expressed by the chairman of the Dairy Board yesterday at the necessity to effect economies in the honoraria of members of the board and of the salaries of the staff. The board has decided to cut its own remuneration by 20 per cent, and tho salaries by 12'/i per cent. Tho members of the. board have hitherto drawn £250 per annum each, the chairman £750; and the salaries amounted to £7830 for the staffs in London and in New Zenlaud. These savings were necessary in view o£ the present position of tho industry and tho demand for reduction or suspension of the levy. Tho chairman (Mr. W. A. loins) suid that, the-board had gone carefully into the question of reducing the start', but if efficiency was to be maintained, no reduction could be made. As to tlie levy, he pointed out that the board had entered into commitments which could not be varied. ' The levy was insufficient to. meet current commitments, and. tho board was drawing upon reserves which had been accumulated during the period before the levy was reduced by half as at present. Advertising in the United Kingdom would bo continued at the rate of £15,000 per annum, this being a very necessary expenditure to. maintain tho sale of New Zealand dairy produce. In addition, tho sum of approximately £4000 was being devoted to' necessary scientific research into various dairying problems. Those commitments were necessary, and raado it impossible for tho present levy to bo reduced or suspended. Producers should remember that the contribution of the average supplier of 50001b of butter-fat to- the board was 16s 7d per annum. For this they received the benefit of the board's collective bargaining in respect to freights aud insurance, had the shipment of .produce supervised both in New Zealand and on arrival in London; benefited by reseurch conducted into dairying problems, received a. monthly journal containing valuable .matter bearing upon production and manufacture, and free inspection and supervision of tho conditions of shipment of dairy produce.

The board toolc the opportunity to correct a report emanating from Taranald to the effect that the expenses of the chairman's recent visit to London amounted to over £ 1400. Mr. lorns pointed out that tlie full cost to the industry did not exceed £700, including fares. lie had kept his expenses to a minimum, and had done much entertaiment at liis own expense. As a matter of fact, Out of pocket expenses exceeded the sum charged to the board by £250.