A NEW ERA

Evening Post, Issue 28, 1 August 1936, Page 11

A NEW ERA

END OF DAIRY BOARD

TAKEN OVER BY STATE

OFFICIAL FUNCTION

A simple function that marked the entering of a new era for the dairying industry in New Zealand was held today in the office of the New Zealand Dairy Board. As from last evening the board and most of,its staff have become part of. the new Primary Products Marketing Department, which has been formed by the Executive Commission of Agriculture. The day was described as memorable in the industry, for it marked the inauguration of the Government's guaranteed prices plan, the reconstruction of the board, and the taking over of the board's staffs both, in New Zealand,.and London. The staffs of the board in London, Auckland, New Plymouth, Dunedin, and Wellington are now civil servants. Mr. G. A, Duncan, a member of the Executive Commission of Agriculture, will be acting director of the new Department, and Mr. G. M. Pottinger, who was assistant secretary of the board, will be'secretary of the Department. . . .-.-.■ •-. . . Although the board has been taken over by the State, it will continue to function exclusively in relation to the internal work of the dairy industry. Mr.T. C. Braish, secretary of the Dairy Board, and his assistant, Miss I. Walker, to whom presentations were made today, will, togejther with the herdrecording branch, under Mr. C. M. Hume, be attached to this internal work. ■-...-■■. ...■•:.. The new Department will occupy the same premises in Featherstbn Street which have been used by the board, and the same work will be carried on, with little, if any, reorganisation.' ' GrROWTH OF INDUSTRY. Mr. Brash, atHoday's function, said his severance with his colleagues on the Dairy Board brought to him a feeling of sadness; but it was the beginning of a new era for the industry. He had been associated with the industry for forty-seven years, and had watched the volume of products grow from 3500 tons of butter and cheese to 250,000 tons export. He had seen attempts made to develop the co-operative spirit in the industry, but the necessity for establishing control boards had "arrived. If they had developed the co-opera-tive system that operated in Denmark, the boards would not have been necessary, but, as it was, unified control was essential. - . It was only through the loyalty and co-operation of trie board's staff that the organisation to carry on the work had been built-up. Individual members had been given a sense of responsibility and had developed a. keen interest in their work, always finding a greater .knowledge in a/great industry. A quarter, oi a million people were directly dependent on the industry, and he was sure that; the former staff of the board would do air in its power to bring to success the work of the Government. :.-.-■ ■ -=■-. Mr.' Duncan -brought good ■ wishes from- the Minister of Finance (the Hon. Walter Nash), was -, was unable to attend. It was a memorable day in the dairy industry, he said, for it marked the inauguration of the guaranteed prices plan, the reconstruction of" the: board, and the taking over of the staffs of the board in London and New Zealand. He had been personally associated with the board for a number of; years, and had told the Minister'from time to time that the foundation had been firmly built for carrying out the' Governr ment policy. He extended to the staff the best wishes for future harmony, in the .work. .. :..,.. ■ WHOLEHEARTED SUPPORT. Mr. Pottinger,! on.behalf of the staff,• congratulated Mr. Duncan, on his appointment as head of the Department, and assured him of the wholehearted support of the staffs-in various parts of the Dominion. "It was a staff of which he could be reasonably proud, and it would not be the fault of the members if the Government's scheme was not a success. • - ■ . - : ■' ■ •■■ ;: Mr. F: W-. Grainger, shipping inspector for- the board,,also sppke, 'and Mr.' Pottinger presented Mr.. Brash with: a travelling rug from the head.offlce and; branches of the board. Miss Walker was presented •■•yHth a handbag from the head office staff. ]■:■ ■'-■-