Operations of the Dairy Produce Board.

Franklin Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 139, 3 December 1934, Page 5

Operations of the Dairy Produce Board.

SECRETARY’S REVIEW.

A MOMENTOUS YEAR.

LARGEST EXPORT IN WORLD

“The reason for the delay in holding ward conferences this year is due to the faet that it was decided to await the report of the Dairy Industry Commission before arranging conferences,” said Mr T. C. Brash, secretary of the New Zealand Dairy Board, when addressing dairyfarmers at Pukekohe on Thursday evening. Mr Brash said much water had flowed under the bridge before a

Dominion-wide organisation—the dairy board —had been formed. The year had been a momentous one, in that i! had seen record low prices for dairy produce, and at the same time there was the largest export of dairy produce in the Dominion’s history. During the year there had been further negotiations regarding quantitative restrictions. The visit of Mr T. Baxter, representing the farmers of Great Britain, created a deal of interest, New

Zealand being asked to restrict export to Britain by 10,000 tons. The ordinary work of the board involved a multitude of details in connection with the shipping of 250,000 tons of dairy produce. This had been built up in a comparatively short time, for when he commenced work in a factory 45 years ago 3500 tons was exported. New Zealand now produced more dairy produce than any country in the world. Denmark exported more butter but New Zealand sent away more cheese. The export of such a large quantity of produce entailed much work in arranging for shipping space, and last year the loading of 120 ships necessitated the making out of 30,000 sets of bills of lading. These details were handled in the board’s head office at Wellington, and at branch offices at Auckland, New Plymouth, Dunedin and Lyttleton. There were over 400 dairy companies, and shipments were spread over 11 grading ports. In order that every company would receive equal treatment, the shipments from each had to be loaded on the boats about the same time. It would be realised further that shipments had to be spread, owing to the fact that 75 per cent of the export quantity was produced in six months.

Saving in Freight,

Premiums collected for marine insurance of the 250.000 tons totalled £60,000 to £70,000 a year. Freight came to £1,250,000. The board had been able to have the freight charges reduced since it had been in operation, a saving of £40,000 a year being effected. By way of levy £BO,OOO was

, collected, and the expenditure of £42.000 a year on advertising necessitated the attention of a first-class accountant and a considerable staff. All accounts of the board were subject to . the careful scrutiny of an officer of the Government audit office. The work of the staff had considerably increased since the marketing of whey and secondary butters was taken over. The hoard’s staff at its head office and branches in New Zealand numbered 25, and in London there were 10 permanent members with a large number employed on a temporary basis in connection with advertising and -work. The operations were fully covered in the annual report, enquiries for which were received from almost every country in the world. As the report cost 2s a copy to produce, it could be seen that a copy could not be sent to each of the 70,000 suppliers “We are going to be faced with a new board. Instead of nine members we are going to have four—a small number for such a large area,” con-' eluded Mr Brash.