DAIRY FARMERS CONFER.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 431, 23 June 1922, Page 7

DAIRY FARMERS CONFER.

VITAL MATTERS DISCUSSED. .QUESTION OF LOCAL MARKETS. Tim conference of the National Dairy Association resumed its deliberations yesterday morning, the chairman of directors, Mr A. Morion, presiding. The North Auckland Dairy Conference wrote conveying the following resolution passed at a recent meeting and asking for support:—“That this meeting of producers undertakes not to sell butter for the local market in any district at less than the price fixed by the local butter committee, provided other districts agree to the proposals.’’ In the course of a general discussion. Mr Marks (Mangaioki) said it was all very well for local agreements to be made, but he thought there were objections to them being adopted generally. Even if (he proposal were carried, how could it bo put into di ed r After furl hor discussion, the motion was lost on the voices. NEW ZEALAND AUCTION SALES, It was moved by Mr 0. Jerusalem “that n be a recommendation to the National Dairy Association executive (o confer with the South Island executive with a view to holding auction sales of dairy produce in Now Zealand.” Speaking to his motion, Mr Jerusalem said that practically onethird of the butter produced in New Zealand was consumed in the Dominion, and the sales would do away with the trouble of local as against export prices. It would also ensure prompt payment for (ho produce, which was a mutter of incalculable benefit. The factories would be able to discern their financial position at once, instead of being in a stale of uncertainty throughout (ho greater part of (ho season. The chairman pointed out that he understood thai ilie South Island Association had passed a resolution on all fours with that proposed hy Mr Jerusalem, Mr Fleming (Dunedin), as a member of the South Island Dairy Assooialion, briefly addressed the meeting, pointing out that his executive had unanimously decided in favour of a system of moldhly auction sales of New Zealand produce. There would, ho explained, be no expense in setting up such sales and the factories would receive their money each month. New Zealand produced the best article in the world, bid the producers had not been receiving a price commensurate with the value of their butter and cheese

Air Agar (T'ai Tapn) said he understood lhere was a certain feeling of antagonism against the South Island Association be cause it had killed the proposal to establish a dairy pool. This was not justified. Ihe proposal had been turned down on us merits, not because of any alleged Reelings of North v. South. ’1 be speaker dwelt at length on the question under discussion, Mating iJim no proposals which embraced the Tooley street merchants would bo acceptable to him fie appealed u> the meeting not to turn down the proposal, even if ii was not acceptable to them, but to de liberate upon it and give a considered opinion thereon. Mr McKerrell (Dunedin) endorsed the sentiments of the previous speaker and urged that New Zealand was iho ideal place for the sale of the Dominion’s produce. In this connection he pointed to the big percentage of the Dominion’s wool clip that was sold in the Dominion. lie stated that tins system had been successfully carried out in Canada, and if it was adopted in New Zealand (hey would, in a very short time, see their produce fetching the same prices aw Danish butter and cheese. There was no compulsion relative to the selling in the Dominion markets, those who were so minded could export direct to England. In the course of a general discussion a North Island delegate pointed out that the South Island Association bad overlooked the fuel that, whereas butter and cheese were perishable product-:, wool was mu. Mr J, S. Commit (Bell Block, Taranaki), in speaking against the motion, pointed out the qiiesiioa of shipping had been overlooked. What use would monthly auction sales in New Zealand be without the assurance of regular shipment and regular delivering on the London market. I lie.su were at present not possible. The debate was continued by MV Corrigan (llawera). and by Mr Bond (Ra-ngi-01ui. the latter opposing the motion. SOUTH ISLAND’S REPLY.

Aflor fun her discussion, Mr Agar replied on behalf of the South Island Association. Ho pointed out that cool storage accommodation in the Dominion would bring butler'and cheese sold in the Dominion into line with non-perishable products such as wool. Ho traversed the argu. merits raised in opposition to the motion and urged its acceptance. At ihis stage the luncheon adjournment was taken. THE MOTION AMENDED.

On the conference resuming in the afternoon, Mr Jerusalem obtained permission to substitute the following in place of the motion: ‘’That this meeting is in favour of setting up a committee to confer with a committee of the South Island Dairy Association with a view to investigating the advisability of establishing auction sales for dairy produce.” Mr Jerusalem stated that, with a _ view to giving wider scope to the committee, ho hud left out any reference to Dominion auct ion sales. The motion was seconded by Mr Sutton (Moa Farmers). After Mr Jerusalem had further amended it by adding that the committee report to the dairy companies within three months. in the ensuing discussion, Mr Grounds, speaking as a member of the Pool ( out mil tee, said that to adopt an auction sales movement would bo a retrograde step and would involve giving a fillip to the speculative element, it had been erroneously assumed in certain quorters that because the South Island had turned it down, the pool project was dead. Various delegates pointed out that the meeting could not divide on the subject until the matter of the projected pool was cleared up. The chairman explained that the pool committee had been about to table its report that morning, when Mr Jerusalem forestalled it with his motion. Eventually, on the motion of Mr Marx, a resolution was carried asking the Pool Committee to submit its report forthwith. Further discussion on Mr Jerusalem’s motion was accordingly deferred. POOL COMMITTEE’S REPORT. In delivering the Pool Committee’s report, the chairman stated that the proposals, in so far as their prospect of receiving the fairly unanimous support of_ the whole of the producers of the Dominion was concerned, had been practically turned down. Continuing, the chairman said that the defection of the South Island made it impossible to carry on hi the original form the proposals of the committee. One thing all were agreed upon was that the present stale of marketing the Dominion’s dairy produce was absolutely bad. If the conference could only evolve tome means of bringing the various views into line material good would be wrought. It had been suggested that it might be possible for the North Island to carry out something on the lines of the original proposal, independent, ol the South Island. lie could foresee, however, considerable difliculty iu the way of any scheme being elleclivc which did not embrace iho whole of the producers of New Zealand. Hefei i mg briellv to Mr Jerusalem’s motion, he suggested that the committee proposed therein might well be given broader scope By authorising it to consider alternative schemes. ' In some supplementary remarks, Mr Brash (secretary of the N.D.A.I said that it was most unfortunate that the South Island Association had not been able to put the pool proposition before its individual factories. A CALAMITY. At the invitation of the chairman, Air \\ ■ M. Coodfellow addressed the meeting. Per--umdly. he thought it was a calamity that the compulsory pool was not to bo allowed to go through; for without the support of the South Island it would fall short ol achievement. The South Island produced only 14 per cent, of the Dominion’s exportable dairy produce but short of its moral support Parliament would not grant the legislation necessary for the compulsory pool. The only alternative was to instructthe proposed committee to evolve some other scheme which would meet the wishes of the dairy factories of the North Island. He scouted the idea of the monthly marketing scheme in New Zealand, which would mean jumping from the frying pan into the

fira. Somo form of Lomlon control was absolutely imperative. Mr T. Moss (Wellington representative cm the N.D.A. executive) spoke against the alternative proposed by the South Island Association. It was suggested by Mr E. Broadbelt (Levin) that the, whole matter should bo referred back to the pool committee for further consideration, with power to consider the advisability of some other scheme to secure improved methods of marketing the Dominion’s butter and cheese. He moved accordingly, and subsequently added to his resolution the words “that the South Island Dairy Association he asked to appoint four members to the committee. The motion as a whole was put to ''' e meeting and adopted on the voices. Mi Jerusalem consequently did nor press Ins own proposal any further.