DAIRY ASSOCIATION

Evening Star, Issue 17369, 3 June 1920, Page 7

DAIRY ASSOCIATION

CO-OPERATIVE MARKETING SCHEME ADOPTED. Most of yesterday afternoon's sitting of the South Island Dairy Association "was occupied by a discussion of the question of the advisability of adopting a co-opera- j five system of marketing in ' England the dairy produce of the Dominion. Mr A. | Moreton (president of the National Dairy j Association), Mr R, Ellison (London rep"- j resente.tiye of that association), and Mr, H. D. Forsyth (a member of the executive) placed before the meeting particulars regarding the proposed scheme. It was gathered from tha remarks of these gentlemen that there had been gTave dissatisfaction in connection with the manner in which tho produce had hitherto been marketed in London. Mr Ellison had been asked to devise a scheme which would improve matters, and had been hreught out from England to place his scheme before the dairymen of the Dominion. Put shortly, tho scheme was to work in cooperation with the Co-operative Wholesale Society of the United* Kingdom, which was a huge federation embracing over four million members and catering for over 20 million people. This society had been selling one-third of the Danish butter which came into the United Kingdom, and were also large handlers cf cheese. They now desired to cut out the Danish products and encourage that from the British Dominions. War control had taudit NewZealand dairymen that it cost 9d per lb to put their butter into the- mouths of the consumer, and 7d per lb to put cheese. Therefore, if the links in tha chain between the producer and consumer could be lessened it would be a gocd thing for nil concerned. The new scheme provided for a Board cf Control consisting cf an coual number of representatives of "the Co-opera-tive Wholesale Society and a New Zealand society or company 'to be Lrmed. This board would control the sale of tho produce and a committee of the board, upon which the New Zealand company ' would have the majority of votes, would control the price. The' C.W.S. had ngreed "to assist in the mutter of finance to tho extent of 50 per cent. Though the "nominal capital of the company would be £IOO.OOO it was considered "that not more than 10 per cent, of this would be required for working purposes. A great many questions were put to the three gentlemen named at the close of their addresses, and opinions freely expressed regarding the proposition ; " after which, the Chairman asked if the meeting were in favor of the broad principle of the schema, and was answered with a unanimous " Ave."

.Mr Booth moved—" That the executive of the South Island Dairy Association be authorised to co-operate with the National Da;rly Association in negotiating arniusre-' ments in conjunction with the Co-operative Wholesale Society for the marketing of our produce." The motion was carried unanimously. A vote of thanks was passed to'the visitors for their addresses. INSURANCE. The Chairman said the Insurance Committee set up to go into tho quest ; .jn of rnsurnnco had reported to the executive. The executive, however, did not think it was advisable at tho present staco to more on the line.3 recommended. As a result of tho report, however, their insurance would be as from July next bv 2s for brick factories and 3s for wooden factories. CHEESE CRATES. Mr R. Arnotfc moved, on fiehali of the executive—" That it be a Recommendation to members that cheese crates shoidd be standardised.'*—Mr Buckingham seconded the motion, which was carried. BUTTER MARKET. Mr Agar moved—"Thai the Imperial Government'having removed the control from English and Irish butter, tho Prime Minister be respectfully asked to make representations to the" Imnerial Government asking that the same" treatment be accorded the New Zealand dairy produce." —Tha motion was carried. VALEDICTORY. The Chairman moved—"That on Mr Bolt's retirement from the executive this conference desire to place on record their appreciation of the valuable services rendered by him to tho South Island Dairy Asoo-ciation." Tho motion was carried with musical honors. Mr Bolt, in reply, said he had been with the association since their formation, and at all times he had tried to'do his duty. He felt, however, that physically and mentally he could not now propeily carry out these duties, and had therefore derided to retiro from the directorate. He had been m the dairying industry for the past 53 years, and he regretted "that flow the tune had come for him to retire. . ' COMPLIMENTARY. 'A hearty vote of thanks was passed to the chairman, the executive, and the staff for the manner in which they had carried out their duties during the 'past year. CONFERENCE NEXT YEAR. It was derided that the next annual coaferenca be held in Dunedin.