NATIONAL DAIRY ASSOCIATION

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 27 June 1924, Page 6

NATIONAL DAIRY ASSOCIATION

PLACE OF NEXT MEETING. HAWERA CHOSEN FOR 1925. TJie chairman said that one question to be decided was the place tor next meeting. It had not been decided which.. place, although throe had been suggested. air T. A. Winks moved that the next conference be held at Hawera. Taranaki had always loyally supported the Association, and on the roll call they were the strongest of all. He had a telegram from air Hooker, secretary ol' the Winter.- Show Company, Hawera, saying' that they could guarantee accommodation for next year. The conference was for the benefit of the dairy industry. Many small farmers in Taranaki could not travel so far nor spare the time, and he considered they should have a reasonable opportunity to attend. He had no fault, to find with the present arrangements, for the Auckland A. and P'. Association had been most hospitable. He was suggesting the change as a matter for the benefit of the dairy industry. Air jiiechin (Alanawatu) seconded. He had intended to support Wellington, .but he was so impressed with the representation from Taranaki that they could do nothing but accept Hawera’s invitation. He noted that forty Taranaki companies were represented here. Looked at in its true light, he added, they should grasp the fact that Taranaki supported the I\’.i>.A. so well that they were entitled to consideration for sending aii invitation to go to the fine city of Hawera. He would like to have seen thei conference at Wellington, but in fairness toHawera he must heartily support the resolution, and he hoped all present would vote for the conference being held at Hawera. Air J. R. Murdoch supported the resolution. He said it might- be news to them that Taranaki was the pioneer of the N.D.A., and therefore it was only fair that the conference: should go there. They could see the best country and excellent roads round Hawera, while the loveliest scenery could be seen at Auckland. Mr H. D. Forsyth supported, saying he had always believed the conference should be held between Taranaki, Auckland and Wellington-. They wished to' popularise the institution, and the way to do so was to change tiie locality of the conference. He believed .there would be great crowds attending, at Hawera. Hawera people had always been particularly enthusiastic, and were, very keen to get the conference in 1 ' their town. The association was well patronised in Taranaki, and Air Alurdoch’s figures showed that Taranaki was Jhigh in the list for indents, subscriptions and numbers. The industry in Taranaki had been responsible for the competition there created by the association in securing cheaper goods-. Holding the- conference there was the best way toi popularise the N.D.A. Mr -Sinclair (Opotiki) supported, and said he had assumed that accommodation would be the difficulty, but wa,s glad to know this had been overcome. He put in a plea for Opotiki for the following year. Air Rowlands (Aiangor-ei) moved as an amendment tljat New Plymouth should be the locale of the conference. Mr Grayling (Waitara) seconded. Air F. Ranford regretted that the amendment had been moved, and urged the mover to withdraw. Air Bond agreed, and supported the motion. On being put to the meeting, the motion that Hawera should be chosen was carried unanimously. AUCKLAND CONFERENCE. DISCUSSION ON REMITS; (By Our Special Reporter.) At the conference of the' North Island National Dairy Association Air. Basset, in moving that in the election of the Dairy Control Board dairy factory’ directors should be the voting units, said that all had agreed on their method of voting. His suppliers always wanted to know why the matter was not fixed by the directors, who had a knowledge of the credentials. Air Ranford, in seconding, said that in his district suppliers hacl asked him to tell them how to vote. He considered that the change would simplify the election and give a more satisfactory result. Mr. Alaule (N.Z.D.F. Union) said he objected to taking the vote from the dair.y farmer, who would, suffer a great wrong if this were done. Mr. Roberts said there had been nmistake in the original Bill, and that the present remit was undemocratic and tended to take away the privilege belonging to the original voters. Air. J. Alarx (Mangatoki) said he disagreed with the remit, but added that he believed the ward system should be introduced. Air. Ranford (Otorohanga) supported the remit, and felt sure that bv adopting it they would get a better and surer method of voting. Air. Bond considered the- motion absurd and strongly opposed it A delegate from the north .reminded directors of the- danger that would arise from not adopting the remit-, and said that- the election should be left to men who had big interests in the industry •md were in a position to know the work of candidates. Air. Rogers (Hauraki Plains) would not support the motion, and believed ' it quite possible that all the New Zealand dairy suppliers would he disfranchised. 1 Air. Fulton agreed and said that ■ other companies would he also deprived' of the power to vote. The motion was carried. , From the New Zealand Co-operative j Dairy Company: “That the New Zea- 5 laud Government introduce the neves- < sai v legislation to make the- grading j of cream compulsory; further, the -second grade to be paid for at ’least one < penny per pound of butter-fat less than j first-grade cream.” ( In moving the remit Mr. Fulton ' (N.Z.D.F. Co-op.) referred to the great c competition to he met, and said they ( had to nail their flag to high quality ? all the time, so as to get the premier t position. To ensure this compulsory t grading must he carried out. He said that all could look hack and see what great improvements had been achieved. He said that it was undeniable that one careless man could pull down the quality’ of the whole output. Air. Broad belt (Loving said that if grading were eomnulsory it would lie the best thing for New Zealand, but the penalty should be left to the individual companies. Air. Bond (Awahuri) said his com- j pany was always in favour of oompnl- ) s'on. He was strongly in support of \ the remit. Air. Johnson (T-Caitieke) said his company’ did not hind him to any action t but he objected to stating that the De- a partment should appoint the graders, r He said his company secured.’ under Ji difficult conditions, a high grading fig c ure and urged all to do the same? t Mr. Buchanan (X.Z. Co-op. Dairy) sai<j that dairy farmers had the finest n country and best conditions, and if ex- a cellent quality was secured by only y a- few the whole m the suppliers suf- t fered. They had to aim at a uniformity of high grade, but some would sav t

[ it would pay to take a price lower by id if they could lessen the trouble they had to take. He considered the penalty should be greater Mi'- Singleton said that he, with Mr. Morton, considered that if the remit uent forward as it stood the department would have to appoint or license cream graders and supervise them, and this would cost a lot of money, and he wished to know whence it would come. * Mr. Hayward (Maungatapere) supported the remit with the deletion of the clause relating to the Department. He believed there should be a uniform penalty. He considered the whole remit a step in the right direction. .Mr. Pulton agreed to the elmination of the clause re the department undertaking the work. Mi - . Broadbelt (Levin) said it was essential to add “and' milk” to the remit. Mr. Brechin made an emphatic appeal against passing the remit, which would create great difficulty for small factories. The amendment to add “and milk” was lost, and a further amendment moved by Mr. Brechin, ‘‘That consideration of the remit be deferred till next n’mil'll -meeting,” was also lost, and the remit wa s carried with the deletion of the clause 'in reference to the department’s undertaking the work of ini spection and licensing of graders. From the Kaipara Dairy Co.—That this conference appreciates the necessity of farm dairy instruction work being continued and extended, and considers in view of prospective compulsory marketing control that this work increasingly assumes national importance as distinct from that of individual companies; and whereas at the present time certain appointments of farm dairy instructors holding departmental status receive a Government subsidy while other similar official appointments do not, it is the opinion of this conference that the whole position should he reviewed by the Government and more equitable -.conditions of appointment laid down. This remit was formally moved by a Ivaipara delegate, and without discussion was passed. Mr Bassett proposed: That the Dairy Control Act should niake proc. vision for the election of a. Dairy Council of 30 members—2o North Is--fland, 10 South Island—elected by the dairy factory directorates in each provincial-or sub-provincial district upon a butter-fat production basis, v ho, would be available as a wider representation of the industry, for .. consultation with the Control Board upon any matter for which thte board may choose to call them into conference. Mr Bassett said that he felt sure what was proposed under the remit would be in the best interests of all. Mr Roberts seconded. Mr Brechin said he was sure that any motion proposed by Mr. Grounds was worth careful consideration. He believed all the hoard wanted an expression of opinion on the subject. Mr McLeod (WaipU) moved as an amendment that the N.D.A. become an advisory board to the Control Board, and that the South Island be given representation through the South Island Dairy Association. i s. Mr Ferguson seconded the amendment. Mr lor ns said that it was never the intention of the Control Board to ■ ask for an advisory board, but said that the area being large and it being difficult for them to get into all quarters they would appreciate having some local advice, whether it be N.D.A. or otherwise. In reply to Air Hicks, Air lorns said they would get the funds from levies on the companies. Air David (Hamua) : “Will the board always take the advice of the council?” Mr lorns said that thev would listen, but would‘not be dictated to. Air David: “Then what the is the use of the council?” Air 'Moss (Eketahuna) said he agreed it was not wise to set up too many bodies, and therefore he would approve of the N.D.A. being the “parliament of the dairy farmer.” Mr Johnson (Kaitieke) said that after listening to the remarks he was convinced that, the N.D.A. could fill'.a very useful place and prove of great value to the work of the hoard. ” The rei|it was passed. From the Kaipara Dairy Co.—That m the opinion of this ‘ conference present railage charges on butter are excessive and disproportionate to other railway charges, and as in many cases transport by rail is unduly slow and delays frequent, it is a recommendation from this conference to the National Dairy Association to again approach the'Minister tor Agriculture with a view to enlisting his support in a further endeavour to, have these matters redressed, and so prevent a large amount of traffic being driven from the railways to transport by road. Mr Sinclair (Whangarei), in moving the remit, said there was no doubt the farmers were being unduly harassed in many respects, and this Vas one way in which improvement could he made.* Air Johnson seconded, saying that he association might have done much more for the farmer. Air Brechin said he rose to defend he association against the undeserved ispei sions cast upon it. The associanon had been of great value to the iniustry. Mr lorns said the hoard had interviewed the department on several occanons in reference to railway charges, -"ie added that the farmers were carrvngh great deal of the load'of taxation in their backs. He told members that tie executive were now arrangm" to igain interview the Minister, and loped to secure considerable conces10ns It was always more difficult to ;efc charges reduced when thev had leen already recently raised. , Kontl , supported the remit, and aid that they should take steps to use heir influence to force the hand of the zoverunjent. Mr Broadbelt- (Levin) said that he onsidered it was the department’s liitv to reduce charges on the railway, o that the factories were not obliged o use the lorries which would cut-up he roads. J The remit was carried unanimously. '™' the Whangarei Dairy Co.: J tint the matter of depreciation taken on factory .plant and equipment lie brought, under the notice of the Commissioner of Taxes with a view to having a uniform and equitable scale allowed in the income tax return.” Afr Sinclair moved the remit, states that machinery and plant would e gone long before, the period lapsed, ased on the amount of depreciation aimed. Air Sinclair seconded, statin" that he matter could be rectified bvlakiim way unlust- taxation on dairy com" ames which were not out- I'or‘profitlakmg. He considered that the -nssolation should make strong represe-nta--I)l'the matter to the Government.. Mr Loud considered they could not less the question too hard in securing further allowance, as the Governmen't ;a.s hitting the dairy farmer all the ime.

Other speakers agreed with the mo tion, and the remit was carried,

GENERAL. Mr F. Ban ford moved that ail election ballots should be secret, that scrutineers be appointed, and the results not made known until the animal meeting. Mr Bond seconded. Mr Brechin regretted that there should be any suggestion that there had been any unfairness or want of secrecy. He himself, a director, had known nothing of the result of the election until the meeting. Mr B. Murdoch suggested that the auditor should be asked to act as sc:utineer, Mr Moss approved the suggestion made by Mr Hanford. Mr lorns blamed the JSi.D.A. in the matter, and said that lotiiing should be known until the annual meeting. Mr Hanford said he had made; no imputation against the executive, but said that it was unfortunate that the result of the Taranaki election was known in Stratford a week before the annual meeting. The; motion was put and carried by a large majority.

The question of getting concessions from the railway for delegates a'tending the conference was briefly discussed. It was suggested that it was not’ unreasonable to ask for something for the farmers, but a majority of the conference members were opposed, and the motion was lost. Mr Sinclair (Opotiki) referring to legal advice asked if it would not be wise to pass on all opinions to each company without any fee. The chairman said that all opinions were filed, and would he circulated at some future date. Mr Bond (Bainesse) asked if the N.D. A. were urging the' passing of tire Dairy Industry Act. In reply, the chairman said that they proposed to get an amendment to the Dairy Industry Act on the possibility of another case similar to the Normanby Dairy Company, and added that a Crown law ofiieer had/'advised against its being passed. The association were still urging an amendment so as to avoid a recurrence of the Normanby difficulty. They wanted to safeguard all companies which could not get their articles amended. In reply to Mr. Donaldson (Opotiki). the chairman said that it was outside the scope of the; association to deal with the local market. Their main concern was witb the Home market. Mr. David (Hannia) asked what was to be done with the money raised by the Dairy Council, and in reply, Mr. Brash said the council would meet once again to deal with the matter.

Mr, Bond (Bainesse) said that freight on cheese had been raised by 148 per cent. When the Meat Control Board asked for a reduction, they had a remission given of half the rate charged, and he wanted to know why the association had not done the same. The chairman referred to the matter of the number of directors, which was suggested to be made thirteen, giving the extra tfyree to Auckland. It had been left to the executive to submit to the conference, with a suggestion that representation should' be ." on a butter-fat basis. He was of opinion that other conditions must be taken into account. If the business could be doubled and subscriptions increased it would be a good idea. Mr. J. B. Murdoch said that the matter of representation was worth consideration, but that. Auckland was not entitled to more. He said that only perhaps on a butter-fat basis should they get more. Mi. Bond agreed with the executive, and said Auckland should not gel more representation.

5 Mr. Murdoch again stressed the point that butter-fat actually .did not 1 come mto the question, and that the whole thing should be considered on a > business footing. The suggestion was not approved. * the chairman said a suggestion had been made that the minimum points 1 tor second grade butter should be 90 ' y aKl the department was agreeable ? to change, and it would likely be s made. J _ A delegate brought up the matter of ' the brands put on-butter boxes «ui»5 gestmg that the name “New Zealand" ' Sf enlarged, and that a map of the - Dominion be printed on the boxes to be used as a means of advertising New Zealand. . Another delegate said he had been , recently m the Old Country, and that ‘ Ww UKI mi hard to ' get New Zealand » hutte TJ ie y wore not advertising enough If they were to fight Argem tine, they must do more. . Mr. Bond suggested humorouslv putv"l? a of a cow, or perhaps a bull, on the boxes. The . suggestion wa a generally approved. ADDRESSES. On the second day a number of capigiven. They were as follows : —Bv Mr. W. M. Singleton Director ot Dairy Division, “Present Position of the Dairy Industry in New Zealand”; Mr T. Woodcock Of nZ yini a , D -£ lry , St , aff >- “Shipping New Zealand Produce ’; Mr. A. Lees secretary of the Toll Dairy Co., “The BusiSfr S P ld v°i f CheesG Manufacturing”; Mu G. \ alentine, .Government Dairv Instructor, Cream Grading and Farm gany Inspection and Instruction” - Mr vv. Ju Dear, secretary of the Kaipara Co-op Dan 7 Co.. “The Business Side of Butter Manufacturing.” All were carefully prepared, very useful and much appreciated. thanks. T he chairman moved a very hearty lot© ot thanks to the staff for loyal service and made special mention of the fact that it was the last time that Mi. Brash would be present, and he wished to Tmbliely recognise his o-ood services He expressed the hopelhai he noiild be as euccessful with the Dairy Control Board as he had hoc, vith the N.D.A. Re also expressed h.s appreciation of the courteiv and con side ration shown to him dui'ilm the utouf trenU r iS n' V( - d:ly ' s ’ a,ul hoped he vcukl meet all delegates at Rawer? next year, where he knew they would get. an excellent reception vr l " acknowledging the compliment, Mu Brash recalled that thirty-five years ago. when he became connected with dairying matters, the dairy expor was £100,090. • whereas now it was flß.nno.ooo. - Tie said the years he had spent with the N-.D.A. had been some or the happiest of his life, and he uas glad to know his work hail been appreciated. Re know he had the backing of all delegates, and expressed § Ins appreciation of the treatment he I bad reeeived. * 8 A hearty vote of thanks was passed ' uith cordial acclamation to the chair- l man for the patience and courtesy he had shown. Tims concluded a Very * useful, interesting ? llK l strenuous two 1 mvvs annua] meeting, one that will be - ihrhv t 0 b ° ar Kno ‘ l fruit for the in- '