DAIRY BOARD COSTS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 221, 1 September 1932, Page 7

DAIRY BOARD COSTS

REPLY TO CRITICISM CHAIRMAN QUOTES FIGURES. MARKETING PROBLEMS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Palmerston North, September 1. The recent criticism of the operations of the Dairy Produce Board’s administration costs was answered by Mr W. A. lorns, chairman of the Board. Interviewed, he said that during the last four years the board's costs had been reduced by 17 per z cent. despite an increase of a similar percentage in the quantity of produce exported. The farmer was having his produce shipped at a lower cost to-day per pound of butter and cheese than for the last 15 years. There was no doubt that last year the board received £41,000 from the levy and expended £53,000, but most of that expenditure was nonrecurring. There was no indication that the board would require to increase the levy. If any increase was made it would bo used solely for advertising overseas. Referring to the development of markets, the chairman said that the board was up against tariffs everywhere. In the East another difficulty was the lack of a direct shipping service. Moreover; the tariff imposed on Eastern products entering New Zealand militated against facilities for the regular interchange of cargo. The difficulty of securing suitable shipping facilities had greatly hampered the board’s activities in the Eastern market. However, with the direct service contemplated by the Osaka Line, whose vessels leave Auckland monthly, he hoped the other industries would make use of the facilities and assist in building up satisfactory freight to warrant a regular timetable.

Concerning markets in Canada and the United States, Mr lorns said that efforts to cultivate these in past years had been countered by tariffs. It was not known whether any reciprocal agreement between Canada and New Zealand had been developed at Ottawa. Attempts had been made to open up a market in the Panama Canal zone. Some butter had been sent there, but the territory came within the scope of the United States Customs ■ regulations and produce sent there for re-export to British Honduras and other Empire territory adjacent, and the Latin States, could not escape these.