CO-ORDINATED CONTROL

Hawera Star, Volume L, 17 February 1931, Page 4

CO-ORDINATED CONTROL

DOMINION DAIRY INDUSTRY NEW MACHINERY WANTED FURTHER. VIEWS VOICED. “The principle involved is an important one and the matter is fully worthy of investigation through a conference, or conferences it necessary, of dairymen, to ascertain the common opinion upon it,” said Air. H. E. Batten, of Tokaora, in an interview yesterday, when lie referred to tbe suggestion made in a “total"' editorial last week that the need exists for greater co-ordination of the dairy industry in the Dominion. Mr. Batten, who was formerly a director of the Riverdaie Co-operative Dairy Company lor many years and officiated as the chairman of directors for four years, is also well Known in the district as the owner of the J ersey herd which provided the milk used in the Hawera laboratory investigation into the relative values of high and low test milk for cheese-making. “I fully agree with the suggestion raised in the ‘total-,’ but without careful investigation it is difficult To outline a manner in which the authority needed to give control in the industry should be constituted,” he continued. “A board of straight-out business men equipped with the necessary practical knowledge of the industry and the authority to direct necessary reforms and matters affecting the common interest in the industry would probably be the ideal constitution.

“Appointment of its personnel, whether elective or otherwise, would, however, be a difficult problem. While we could obtain the services of many men having practical experience to bring to bear in dealing with thataspect, those having that experience combined with the requisite business training would be rare. If such an administrative authority were established something else would have to be scrapped, as it would be useless to advocate the establishment of yet another body which would add to the overhead charges in the industry. But whether we scrap existing organisations or allow greater scope to those established, an improved form of directional authority, representative of the industry, is needed. It is useless for tbe industry as a whole to adoptrecommendations expressing the views of the majority if the machinery is lacking to have them put into practice.”

THE BASIC TROUBLE SUPPLIERS LACK CONFIDENCE. AIR. MURDOCH’S CONFERENCE PROPOSALS. “There is certainly a need for greater co-ordination in the administration of the industry,” said Air. J. B. Murdoch, chairman of directors of Joli's Co-operative Dan-y Company. “The trouble in our industry starts m the lack of confidence and loyalty on the part of the suppliers towards" the men whom they appoint to carry on their business. The supplier forgets that he must have confidence in himself in the first place and then have confidence in fiis choice of representatives. We want to get rid of that feeling of lack of confidence which runs right through the industry from top to bottom. At the head of the organisation, as the ‘Star’ has suggested, we require a responsible authority capable ot making decisions and free of political domination. This has been the trouble with our Dairy Board, political domination; one of its other troubles has been the introduction of individual interests. “It lias been the method of the Division for many years to go to individual groups within the industry and ‘sound’ them. This button-holing system does not lead to co-ordination. The groups often do not know each other and have been given no opportunity to come to a common agreement. Instead of this system, the industry should be capable of evolving a system whereby some responsible head—free of political influence —should be able to say, ‘This is what we want done. Get it done.’ ”

“Do you think,” Mr. Murdoch was asked by the reporter, “that the present conditions, including the price we are getting for our cheese, warrant this subject being discussed by a conference of those interested in the near future?”

“Yes; but in order that such a conference .should get down to business 1 would suggest that, say, three men be asked to draw up a paper lor discussion, so that we should all be kept to the point and not side-track on to other issues when the conference took place,” said Mi-. Murdoch. “The aim of such a conference should be the co-ordination or elimination of all these 101 organisations within the industry—each doing their little bit of good, perhaps, but in the aggregate becoming burdensome to the industry as a whole. The ideal system of administration,” he continued, “would be to cut down to one administrative head; nothing could be operated in special districts without the agreement of this head, and we would then be able to eliminate disturbing influences.” Mr. Murdoch added that some such co-ordination as that sought should be able to bring better influences to bear upon marketing methods. Trade had connections all over the world and the dairy industry should take advantage of them. He disagreed entirely with the Dairy Board’s “communistic” policy of allowing one brand only for New Zealand cheese. How were they going to work up and maintain a goodwill so long as there was only on© brand to cover all sorts of quality and flavours ? His company had made a close study of this question and all the evidence pointed to the need for individual brands for cheese. “Establish goodwill, give continuity of supply and consistency of quality ; employ a regular channel for reaching the English market, cutting out all this chopping and changing of mediums; establish a representative and strong ‘head’ of the whole industry—those are the immediate needs of the industry as I see them,” said Mr. Murdoch.