DAIRYING INDUSTRY

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 230, 14 September 1935, Page 8

DAIRYING INDUSTRY

Commission's Wide Powers NO DESPOTISM INTENDED Mr. D. G. Begley’s Comment I A statement that the Agricultural Executive Commission, at the recent conference with dairy company delegates in Palmerston North, had impressed him by its obvious grasp of the problems confronting primary producers, was made yesterday by Mr D. G. Begley, who, as chairman of directors of the Jleretaunga Dairy Company, was present as the representative of Hawke’s Bay dairying interests. Sir Francis Frazer had told him, said Mr Begley, that although the Commission had very wide powers, it did not intend hi any way to be despotic, but it was determined to investigate every aspect of the dairying industry, and to bring about economy and efficiency in every producing unit. The Commission was now engaged, said Sir Francis, in addressing the meeting, in making a complete survey of all dairy factories and producing areas and also was making a thorough investigation into the methods and costs of cream supplies to factories with a view to elim’nating over-lapping and uneconomic services in delivery. Also, the Commission was giving much attention to the delivery of cream in proper condition. STANDARD BALANCE-SHEETS. " The matter of all factory costs was another point that the Commission was investigating, and it was hoped that by a comparison of one factory’s costs and methods with those of another, considerable and useful economies would be effected. It' was the intention of the Commission to consider the advisability of establishing a standard system of rendering balance-sheets so that it would be possible to make true comparisons between one factory and another, and so as to make the fullest information available as a guide in manufacturing. The Commission proposed to devote its attention to the marketing of butter within the Dominion, and had formulated a plan by which needless costs would be eliminated. At the conference of the Dairy Board next week, said Mr Begley, some very important matters, including those touched upon by Sir Francis, would be brought forward for discussion. The | decision made at this conference would result in the initiation of movements that would contribute greatly to the progress of the dairy industry in New Zealand. CHAOTIC CONDITIONS. The following comment, quoted from the eleventh annual report of the Dairy Board, supplements the remarks of Mr Begley: “The universal opinion held throughout the industry is that much money is being lost to the producers by the chaotic conditions under which butter and cheese are being placed upon the market in this Dominion. The board has beeu given authority to deal with this matter, and, as recommended in the Dairy Industry Commission’s report, the board sought the advice of those interested in the manufacture and distribution of butter on the local market. This was done with a view to arriving at the best basis on which action should be taken, as the board has already definitely decided that, steps will be taken to bring about an improvement. “The marketing of cheese on the local market is not being overlooked, and it may be found that it must be dealt with simultaneously with butter. Otherwise, as suggested by the Dairy Commision, it will be investigated after the reorganisation of the local butter I market is completed.’’ GHEE EXPORT. ’ I Referring to the possibility of developing the export of ghee, the report says: “The board, in conjunction with the Dairy Research Institute, has investigated the possibility of the sale of ghee in Eastern markets. The Research Institute has made a large number of the different samples from various types ' of butter, and these have been widely j distributed throughout the East with I the purpose of ascertaining the type of ' ghee desired. “No definite information on this point is yet to hand. Information received indicates that trade in pure ghee has in recent years been rapidly decreasing owing to substitutes, or what is known as synthetic ghee, which is Bold at much lower prices.''