SEARCHING SCRUTINY

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 27 June 1935, Page 8

SEARCHING SCRUTINY

DAIRY INDUSTRY REVIEWED ANNUAL DOMINION CONFERENCE “FUTURE OUTLOOK BRIGHTER.” PALMERSTON N., .Tunc 26. Once a year the opportunity for a icomprehensive and searching scrutiny of the dairying industry by those actively engaged in it is lafforded at the National Dairy Association’s annual conference which, this year, is being held at Palmerston North. Although the conference has no power to enforce its decisions, the views of the delegates usually receive the con l sideration they deserve from those with authority to give effect to them. It is true that there are often differences of opinion, but in an industry with so many interests it would be little short of la miracle if all saw the same way. Approximately 350 delegates attended the opening ceremony, and before proceeding to the business set down for their consideration they were welcomed by the Mayor, Mr A. E. Mansford. To-day, he said, we were living in a political age, not because we wanted to, but because most of our problems had become so large and involved that we could not escape it. These problems had to be thought out, and if that were not done "they would have to be fought out. One of the great faults to-day lay in distribution. He trusted that the result of their dc 1 liberations would prove of benefit, not only to the dairying industry but to the Dominion as a whole. EVENTS DURiNG THE YEAR. •Events of importance in the dairying industry during the past year were reviewed by the chairman, Mr A. Morton, of Egmont Village. Conditions had shown an undoubted improvement, but they were still only slightly better than they were when they met in conference last year. By far the most important happening in the industry was the report of the Dairy Industry Commission. There was no doubt it was a most valuable document. He had every confidence in the reconstituted Dairy Board, and particularly in its chair|m)an, Mr A. J. Murdoch, <M.P., as being capable of dealing with the present knotty problems facing the industry, and that if only given time the board would arrive at a solution acceptable to all. He felt sure that before long steps would be taken in the direction of providing a system of universal dairy farm "practice. MARKET CONDITIONS IMPROVE, Mr Morton said he could not see how it was possible to obtain better prices without a rise in the markets at the other end. If the standard of quality could be improved it might be possible to get slightly better prices, but there j would be no definite improvement until j there was a decided improvement in conditions over which they had no control.

j “I believe,” said Mr Morton, “the outlook for dairy produce is much brighter than for some time past. Our one and practically only market is Great Britain, and financial conditions there are much better than they have been for some years past. So far as this country is concerned, there has been ample evidence during the past twelve months that things are better with us. There is no doubt the financial atmosphere is much better to-day.”

NEW DAIRY BOARD The work done by the Dairy Board since its inception about three months ago was reviewed by its chairman, Mr A. J. Murdoch, M.P. It was essential, ho said, that the industry should have confidence in the board. It yas from gatherings such as the conference that the board would gain the views of the industry. The new board had been called upon to assume a number of functions not undertaken by the old board. One of these was local marketing. This problem was not the simple one that many people imagined. It had been said that the board had no right to take evidence on local marketing when the Dairy Industry Commissionl had already heard evidence on the subject, but that heard by the commission was given under the seal of confidence and was hot accessible to the board. Mr Murdoch said there was in existence an arrangement with Australia, made by the previous board, the effect of which was to endeavour to maintain equilibrium so far as markets were concerned and maintain prices as at present. The board was in communication with Australia, and representatives of the dairy industry in that country had asked for a conference to discuss the question of disposal of second-grade butter and the fixation of a minimum price. If an arrangement were made it would be one that was binding on both parties.

ASSOCIATION RECONSTRUCTION “There is very little difference between this year’s balance-sheet and that of last year,” said the chairman

in moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet. “The year has been, of an eminently satisfactory nature and shows that the progress since the reconstruction of the association has | been steady.” He added that the reconstruction had been thoroughly justified. Continuing by detailing various aspects of the balance-sheet, Mr Morton said the total turnover for the year amounted to £268,000, which spoke well for the substantial nature of the, business carried on by the association. The following were elected to vacancies on the directorate: Auckland district, Messrs TV. E. Hale (Turua), P. T. Ivean (Tauranga); Taranaki, Mr F. Parsons (Whenuakiira); Wellington, Mr J. D. Brown (Chau). A ballot was only necessary in the of the Wellington district, the defeated candidates being Messrs C. G. C. Dormer (Cheltenham) and N. Campboil (Ivauwhata). Mr C. D. Morpeth was reappointed as auditor. It was revealed in the annual report that after provision had been .made for all expenses of management, also depreciation of £1251 16s lid, expenses of the National Dairy Conference amounting to £392 12s, the profit and loss account showed a credit balance of £319 19s, which had been transferred to the appropriation account. The sum of £I3OO had been allocated to the rebates adjustment account for the year ended April 30 last, of which £627 4s lOd was credited to contributing shareholders’ capital accounts, representing rebates on purchases for the six months ended October, 1934. The rebates for the second half-year, ended April 30 last, would be credited in a similar manner. Reference was also made in the report to the great loss the association and the industry had sustained by the death of Mr Dynes Fulton, who had for many years occupied a very prominent position in the industry.