DAIRY INDUSTRY.

Grey River Argus, 23 June 1927, Page 3

DAIRY INDUSTRY.

CONFERENCE OPENED. By National Association. (Per Press Assn.) ROTORUA, June 22. The annual meeting of the National Dairy Association Conference opened at the Grand Theatre. Air A. Alorton presided. The attendance is 400. The Alayor, Air T. McDowell, welcomed the visitors, and trusted they would avail themselves of the opportunity to visit the district farms, attend the Winter Show, and see what the comitry was capable of producing. Air 11. Al. Alartin, on behalf of the County Council, spoke in the same terms. On the motion of Air Sutton, seconded by Air Taylor, the report and balance sheet wore taken as read. The Chairman said it gave Mill great pleasure to meet such a large gather-

ing. He referred to the produce o! the manufactured article, saying that, although the amount was fairly maintained, the industry was not making progress. They were not going back, but, in view of the large areas available, they had not made the progress they should. It was surprising that they had made so little progress. This was not because of want of suggestions. A notable exception was Nortn Auckland. They had had to increase the size of the factories. Perhaps it was their better climate, but the season as a whole had been favourable. The North’s progress was due to better methods and fertilisers. He was plased to say the quality of their products had advanced. This was due to grading, and also to the initiation of superfine grading. Credit was also due to the factory managers. There had been no adverse reports from London. Ho referred to prices, which was a delicate subject. There had been a general fall in the prices of the products last year. Ho gave the Conference a note of warning three years ago. They could meet this only by increased production. The decrease in

the prices of their products covered everything except wool. Beef, lamb and ' pork had been lower. This had been disappointing with respect to pork, as they had expected extra goon prices owing to the importation of pork from the Continent haying been vetoed in England. This might have been caused by tlif economic state of the Old Country, or by the resumption of the gold standard. During the last year the advance was made iii the matter of research, which was being pushed by the Government, by establishing laboratories. Herd testing was not carried out as closely as it ought to be, seeing that testing told the farmer the value of each cow. It lias astonishing that testing was not more closely attended, to. If carried out consistently, it would mean an in crease of millions. The Waikato show-

ed a substantial increase. They must adopt better methods, herd testing, and consistent top dressing, the latter (paying handsomely. Uy concluded by I moving the adoption of the report. This was seconded by Mr Maule, who said he could not congratulate the Company on the balance sheet. If they had been a new Company, he could have understood the mistakes, but an old Company to confess that they had traded on too low a percentage, and that the overhead charges were larger Ilian thev expected, was inconiprehen sible lie would like to know it the Chairman and Secretaries had done their duty? (Laughter.) They should have taken advantage of having interim reports. Air Brown criticised the balance sheet severely. Air Kyle, of Palmerston North, congratulated the Association on the assumption “that it might have been

waur.” , In reply to questions, the. Chairman Informed the delegates that the only two officials whose salaries had been cut down were'the Secretary and the Chairman of Directors. Mr Backhouse (Secretary) said thy? recognised the position of the j ssoci.i tion, and expected, with the loyalty of the Directors of Factories, to clear the adverse balance in a year or two. int Association was saving the dairying in dustry a matter of £50.000 per annum. Thev could supply any factory with machinery and fertilisers, but they must receiver the support of the Directors. (Applause.) _ The Compa y should always bo asked for a quota tion. If this were done, the £5OO spent on five travellers would not have been necessary. Mr Hayward (Maungatapu) and Mr Tavlor (Hikurangi) spoke in sunport. Mr Mogridge (Auckland) complained of differentiation in the charges by the Association. Ho was assured by Mr Mackhouse these would lie non recurre After the lunch adjournment, Messrs Small and Fallow spoke' sympathetically, opposing any curtailment of salaries. The motion was put and carried. Palmerston North was fixed as the place for next conference.