DAIRY FARMERS

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 3 May 1923, Page 7

DAIRY FARMERS

ANNUAL CONFERENCE. (BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION ) PALMEBSTON NORTH, May 1. The first .annual conference of the Wellington Provincial Dairy Farmers' Union opened this morning. Delegates were present 'from many branches in the district, and Mr P J. Small, provincial president, presided.. The delegates were welcomed by the Mayor, Mr Nathan, who formally opened the conference. | Mr Nathan, referring to the Dairy' Produce Control Bill, said the industry vas suffering irom irregular shipments.' Jn April 30 there were in the Dominon 167,000 boxes of butter and 74,000 rates of cheese. This produce \vo\ild •each the markets at a time when other jountries in Europe would be producng under conditions that would enible them to place their produce on the narket at the lowest cost. He advo:ated fortnightly shipment's. The ships nust make six trips, whereas now they vere making four, for the reason that ;he vessels had to call at small ports ound the coast. This was a costly msiness. He would prefer to see proluce shipped direct from .the main )orts which would enable the best me;hods of handling and despatch to be smployed. He urged co-operation beiween the dairy farmers and the merihants, remarking upon the fact that ;he merchant class never had an op-1 jortunity of assisting the dairy armor. The president's address congratu-' ated the union on the increase in nembeTship. The agenda paper confined most important subjects. He yas convinced that the time was not ar distant when the farmers, as a vhole, would form a federated head nd conduct their own business. The annual report was adopted after l brief discussion. In the afternoon Mr Jessep, vicehairman of the Meat Control Board, iddressed the delegates.