IMPORTED CONTAINERS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 7 April 1925, Page 6

IMPORTED CONTAINERS.

FOR DAIRY PRODUCE

EXPERIMENT TO BE, MADE. BY TARANAKI COMPANIES. An extraordinary geneiul meeting of dairy companies holding sliaies in the Egmont is ox Company was held in Eltiiam yesterday to consider the question or importing supplies of boxes and mates for use in packing butter and cheese exports from the province. Mr J. B. Murdoch (chairman of directors; presided, and approximately 70 shaiehokling companies were represented.

During a lengthy discussion, the necessity for sectoring suitable timber supplies to supplement New Zealand white pine, ..which, it was considered, would not prove sufficient to cope with future requirements, was stiessed, it being finally resolved, on the motion of Mr J. Marx. (Maiigatoki), seconded by Mr \V. C. Green (Rahotu) to recommend to the directors that as an experiment a percentage ol butte,r boxes and cheese crates be imported and apportioned among the various shareholding companies. CHAIRMAN’S REMARKS.

Iri outlining the purpose of the meeting, the chairman said that a large number of dairy companies dealt entirely with New Zealand white pine, the supply of which was diminishing, and which would probably prove a scarce commodity before very long. With a view to'obtaining information concerning the availability of other suitable timbers, the Box Company had instituted inquiries in various quarters, and had recently communicated with a Hamilton dairy company, which it was understood had last year imported blitter boxes from Sweden. A letter received in reply stated that quite a large quantity of ‘‘Torroba” boxes had been imported last season, and had proved the best shook the company had ever imported, the joints being tight and strong, and the whole being planet! clean and cut to accurate dimensions. The only report received from London so far had been that while the odour of the box had penetrated the parchment and touched the outside butter, the result had been sc slight as to have no affect, on the commercial value of the produce. Therefore, the matter of taint might be considered negligible. The letter also stated that further tests were being made, and it was hoped would turn out satisfactory. GOOD CONDITION ESSENTIAL.

Proceeding, the chairman said it was, of course, desired that New Zealand butter should reach the consumer in the best possible condition. Concerning the New Zealand white pine boxes manufactured by the company, no complaint respecting any taint had ever been made, but .if supplies of material could be obtained elsewhere an effort should be made to secure them. Samples had been submitted, and would be shown at the meeting, but as yet the company could not recorinhend any outside box or crate as being likely to give absolute satisfaction to the industry. Mr Murdoch quoted landing and other charges .respecting a full shipment from Sweden (estimated at 100,000 shooks), showing the respective cost of boxes and crates made up and distributed to the dairy factories to be Is 9d and 2s lid. American crates had been quoted at 2s 3|d, but this would be increased to 2s llid. These figures lioweVer, would refer only to full shipments, and smaller lots could be expected to cost comparativey more. If small lots were imported, it was clear that there would be nothing in it so tar as price was concerned, and the only way to deal with the position was to import in shiploads. The Box Company’s boxes would compare favourably with the imported article in prices, blit in quality the former were far the better. The position .so fat as the Box Company was concerned was that they had not yet assured themselves that any particular imported box or crate had proved suitable, and consequently could n6t at the present juncture afford to full the' risk incurred in buying large quantities. The speaker quoted an instance of one company which had imported a. supply Which ultimately proved useless. The boxes cost Is 9cl plus duty.. The Customs Department had been approached concerning a refund of duty on boxes re-exported, blit it was Uncertain whether this would be received in full, as the Department could not be expected to bear the expenditure entailed in checking without seme compensation. Mi- Murdoch exhibited several * imported boxes and crates of Swedish and American origin, and, drawing attention to one which had beCii wired and stapled by the Hamilton Company, pointed out that this necessitated employing expensive machinery, and the oox was also about oiie-twblfth larger .ban the ordinary box.

EXPERIMENTAL MEASURES. Revelling to the subject of obtaining supplies its an experiment, Mi’ Murdoch said lie had tiischss'ed the matter with the 'director of the Dairy Division, Mr Singleton, and after further consideration, had come to the conclusion that the only way to make a trial would be for the Box Company to take up supplies under the assurance that the dairy companies would accept them. The Box Company wished to help the industry in every way possible, but could not afford to try the experiment unaided. During the past Jew months the Box Company had overcome certain difficulties, and did not wish to be faced with further trouble by being compelled to hold quantities of unsold material. Next season the company's quote would be 2s for boxes and 3s for crates, showing very little difference with the price of the imported article, though with the present timber values, the prices left the company very little margin. Further, the ends of imported crates were stipulated at | and 3 inch, whereas the Box Company manufactured 1 inch ends*, and it was doubtful if the lesser thickness' would prove strong enough to withstand the wear and tear of handling in transit. The batons of the imported samples appeared fairly strong, hut there would he a, danger of the odour affecting the cheese with a. taint. Referring to the opinion held in Australia concerning New Zealand white pine, Mr Murdoch .said that millers were receiving up to 29s a 100 for export to Australia, this figure being approximately more than the price obtained in New Zealand for prepared shooks. A further aspect of the question to he considered would be the possibility of overseas supplies being delayed as the position would he serious should butter and cheese have to he kept on the shelves for any length of time. If it was derided to import supplies this contingency would have to be provided for. In conclusion, the chairman suggested that if the meeting thought it advisable to make a trial of imported boxes and crates shareholders should combine and each take a /proportion of a shipment to he ordered by the Box Company. ’ 1

I IMPORTATION SUGGESTED. 1 Replying to Mr AY. C. Green (Rahotu), the chairman said that as the freight was at present 4s on _ butter boxes, the box previously exhibited, which was one-twelfth larger than those j at present in use, would send up freight j; harges proportionately. 1 Answering another inquiry concernhnr responsibility lor damages in import transit, Mr Murdoch said the- onus would he on the buyer to ascertain tha.t when received c.i.f. the supplies were in good condition. A certain amount of damage was only to be expected, as could he judged from a receiit experience when 100 crates in shooks sent from Invercargill had arrived in a very bad condition at Eltliam. Mr J. R. Corrigan (Hawera) suggested that the Box Company, -acting as an agent, should import- the matriaJs and manufacture acomding to the dairy ompanies’ orders. The chairman thought the suggestion would entail difficulties to the Box Co., i-he staff of which.would be engaged m making up boxes, etc., from its own timber? and consequently would be unable to guarantee fulfilment of other orders as Required. .. ;. Mr Jac-oh Marx (Mangatola) said his company had instituted inquiries in the Waikato, where it was thought that the wired box could be turned out at 2s 3d. but while it was estimated by the particular company that an economy of 1 000,000 feet , of timber would be effected annually, the pattern required the use of very wide timber and the employment of an elaborate and expensive set of machinery. For cheese rrates in South Taranaki it was thought that Swedish hemlock might prove suitable, hut he considered that threequarter inch thickness for. ends and centre pieces would not give satisfaction. The seven-eighths. or preferably the full inch, should be insisted upon. He considered, however, that the time bad arrived when overseas timbers should be experimented with in Taranaki, but any importation should he made through the Box Company, which, lie suggested might order up to 25 per I r-ent of timber to meet the requirements in boxes and crates, the material, if ncssible, to he of odourless wood and wit in sizes uniform with the timber now supplied to the Box Company’s •’actory.* With the support of shareholding dairy companies the Box Company would be able to make the best possible 'erms without undue risk, which would be borne equally by the companies oon'erned.

PREVIOUS EXPERIMENTS. Referring to a previous remark made by the chairman, who had advocated the advisability of adopting uniformity in the- length of cheese crates, Mr Cor.igan said he understood from Mr Singleton that the Control Board intended asking for a uniform length of 27) inches. In the matter of imported material, Mr Corrigan thought the Box Company should make every endeavour to assist the industry, even to the extent of making up boxes and crates as he had formerly suggested. If, however, the Box Company could not undertake that, the dairy companies vould have to make their own arrangements for nailing, etc. Instancing the Hinuera Dairy Co., Mr Corrigan further stated that hemlock boxes had been tried with satisfactory results for two years. Such had also been experimented with under the direction of the Dairy Division, Whose officials had sent a sample to Great Britain, and had arranged for its return and subsequent storage for 12 months to ascertain whether the produce would he affected with any taint. Stressing the increasing scarcity of white pine supplies in .New Zealand, Mr Corrigan said it must be remembered that imported materials would heln to conserve the former, and thought that if dairy companies in the orovince were prepared to make a test of the imported timber the Box Company should give all possible help. Regarding the question of duty, a rebate bad been made in respect of boxes brought into the country and sent out again, and the system would, he understood, he continued. Instancing a further difficulty which would confront the Box Company ill watering for individual requirements of dairy companies, the chairman pointed out ‘that extra storage capacity would be necessary, as importations could not be made in small quantities. As for conserving the New Zealand white piiae resources, this could not be depended ipon. To ensure a reserve stock of material the Box Company would have to keep on cnttiiig, as once the importation policy were adopted it might prove awkward to procure other supplies in New Zealand should they be required, and other millers would keep witting to meet the Australian demand. Mr' W. Power (Stratford) said that whereas up to the present only white line had been used for packages there now appeared to "lie an opportunity to experiment with imported timbers, asuired supplies- of which—Swedish in lartienlar —were available. Giving an nit-line of the Box Company’s financial iperations. he considered that the comlany might he able to afford the experioeiit without prejudicing the interests j shareholders to any. appreciable extent. , . ' ,

RECOMMENDATION MADE. After some further discussion, Mr Marx moved that it he a recommendation from the meeting to the Egmont ;3ox Company to import, as an experinent, a percentage of boxes and crates to be apportioned among the dairy :ompanies concerned, the details as to die percentage and the particular timbers being left to the discretion of the dii-ectors.

In seconding pro forma Mr W. C. Green (Rahotu) said the matter would entail a full inquiry into the question if importing timber, and the threat might possibly have the effect of reducing the price of New Zealand timber. Any responsibility would have to be taken’by the Box Company, which, however, must be supported by the dairy companies concerned, as it could not undertake the risk only to have the boxes or crates refused by dissatisfied , clients. Mr Power suggested that the motion be altered so as to make a definite recommendation that £IOOO he expended in importing Swedish and American boxes and crates, hut later moved as: an amendment that-the Box Company he recommended to import Swedish and American boxes • and crates to the value if £2OOO, the boxes and crates after being made up to be apportioned among the dairy companies. Mr Marx said that in his experience the Box Company directors had been extremely cautious, and could be relied upon to act in the best interests of the shareholders. Restrictions Would only hamper them to no useful purpose, and would perhaps spoil what it was proposed to he clone. The amendment lapsed. Replying to Mr Green, the chairman said that all nines or soft woods from the Northern Hemisphere were affected with an odour, though experiments were pending to have it eliminated. An “apple” odour was even sometimes noted in New Zealand white pine. Mr. Corrigan pointed out that certain dairy companies had already undertaken ‘ liabilities, and thought the Box Comnany might, without incurring unnecessary risk, experiment through them. He moved that the Box Company lie recommended to make up the shooks to be imported by the dairy companies and to place all information

obtained on the subject before shareholders next season. This amendment also lapsed, and a further amendment, proposed by Mr G. Gibson (Rahotu), that 'imports should be limited to American spruce, \Vas subsequently withdrawn, after which the motion whs put to the meeting and carried. In conclusion, the chairman gave an assurance that the directors, after carefully investigating the matter, would act as deemed wisest in the interest of all concerned and would, he hoped, be able to supply a report for consideration at a subsequent meeting.