The Star Delivered every evening by 5 o'clock in Hawera, Manaia, Normanby, Okaiawa, Eltham, Mangatoki, Kaponga, Awatuna, Opunake, Otakeho, Manutahi, Alton, Hurleyville, Patea, Waverley. SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 1914. THE MARKETING OF CHEESE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVI, Issue XLVI, 25 April 1914, Page 4

The Star Delivered every evening by 5 o'clock in Hawera, Manaia, Normanby, Okaiawa, Eltham, Mangatoki, Kaponga, Awatuna, Opunake, Otakeho, Manutahi, Alton, Hurleyville, Patea, Waverley. SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 1914. THE MARKETING OF CHEESE.

It is common knowledge that the directors of the co-operative dairy companies are by no means satisfied with the results of the present conditions of marketing cheese in the Home markets. There is, for example, too great a discrepancy between the price realised for the Canadian and that for the New Zealand product. It is estimated that, striking an average, the price realised for Canadian this past season was 6s a hundredweight in excess of that obtained for New Zealand. What that means in the gross can be readily appreciated when it is known that the value of the output from Taranaki alone this season will approximate a million pounds sterling. The difference in the realisations, it is estimated, is to. the disadvantage of Taranaki by about £50,000. "Why is this so?" ask the directors of companies and the producers. To that question they have not been able to get a satisfactory answer. They believe the reason to ■■ be weakness in the system of marketing at the other end. This opinion has been held for some time, and it tends to grow in strength rather than diminish. In 1913 a move was made to se^k a remedy, the remedy of combination by restricting consignment to approved firms who would agree to the consignors being directly represented to act with these firms in the marketing of the produce. At the meeting in 1913 it was resolved: "That this meeting of cheese factory companies recommend the cheese factory companies of the Dominion to unite for the purpose of marketing their dairy produce in the Home market; failing the Dominion, that Taranaki take the initiative; that some four or five good Home firms be selected to whom New Zealand dairy consignments be sent, and that consignors be represented by, say, five representatives, to act in conjunction with one member from each of the firms selected for the marketing of our dairy produce to the best advantage." It was considered too late to make arrangements for 1913, but since then a committee has been at work, and another meeting is to be held shortly to see if something cannot be done for the 1914 .season, and a circular recently issued seeks to bring the matter to a head. "As to probable cost of proposals and financing same (says the circular), if New Zealand dairy companies bear in mind the great expense at' which Home firms keep their agents here, together with the scores of thousands of pounds ■sterling we are this year losing on present butter and cheese marketing in the United Kingdom, the cost of runnin our own representative committees should only 'be a fraction of what is now going past us. Our Home representative of the N.D.A. will no doubt be a member of the- Home committee." The project is of great importance, and the result will be looked for with interest by the people engaged in the dairy industry, and also by the general public.