THE Hauraki Plains Gazette. With which is Incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY. “Public Service.” WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 1942. WAR-TIME LOCAL BODIES

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 51, Issue 3103, 8 April 1942, Page 4

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette. With which is Incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY. “Public Service.” WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 1942. WAR-TIME LOCAL BODIES

The growing burden of war legislation which has been shouldered on to local bodies throughout , this Dominion should be more recognised by the man-in-the-street. We wonder how many of our readers realise the work entailed by Patriotic, E.P.S., and other organised efforts which have been placed in the hands of the Borough Clerk. It must be remembered that local bodies are also experiencing the staff shortage problems along with all other firms and yet they are expected to fulfil their normal peace time obligations and carry a great national responsibility at the same time. Those who’may feel inclined to criticise at times should bear the above in mind. DEHYDRATED BUTTER The export of dehydrated butter from the Dominion to Great Britain, disclosed by Professor Ridet, director of the Dairy Research Institute, may prove to be one of the major developments of the dairying industry in the war years. The immediate benefit, assuming that facilities will be available to deal with a substantial quantity of butter, would be the lessened demand on cool storage space on the ships, for the produce can be carried at ordinary temperatures, thus freeing the cool chambers for the transport of perishable foodstuffs. There are, of course, many factors that will require attention. There is the cost involved in treating the butter, as well as the price which the British authorities are prepared to pay, both affecting to a large extent the return to be established at economic levels. One of the tasks of the Dominion in post-war. years will be to re-establish its position in the overseas markets. Competition may be exceptionally keen and the most active competitor with butter is margarine. Quality is likely to be the deciding factor in the markets after the war, as it was prior to the outbreak of hostilities, and New Zealand won an established position because of the high quality of its produce. That asset must be retained. A BIG INDUSTRY Salaries and wages paid in the 416 dairy factories in the Dominion during the 1940-41 season totalled £1,204,062. Milk and cream cartage cost £523,310 and the pay-out for butter-fat aggregated £28,637,801. The total value of dairy products for that season was £32,771,097, according to the Abstract of Statistics. Additional costs of production were £1,426,299 cost of materials (boxes, rennet, etc.) and £912,872 for other expenses of manufacture and operation. The number of suppliers was 63,313, as compared with 63,875 in the 1939-40 season. For motive power in the factories 3073 engines developed 27,877 horsepower. Separators used totalled 52,967, but only 417 of these were used in factories. The value of land and buildings used in the manufacture of dairy produce is shown as £1,809,650, and of plant and machinery £1,685,575.