DAIRY INDUSTRY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 110, 9 April 1934, Page 5

DAIRY INDUSTRY

SYSTEM OF PLANNING. , SUGGESTION FOR COUNCIL. Support for a suggestion emanating from Hawcra that a supreme dairying authority be set up to plan the industry was given by Mr T. A. Winks, Government member of the Dairy Produce Board, a few days ago. There was room for something of the nature of the proposed council, said Mr Winks, and such a body could play a most important part" The Dairy Board had so far operated only in connection with the export of produce, and it was doing very excellent work, despite the criticism of many who were not fully acquainted with its activities and results. It did not, however, have anything to do with domestic control of the industry. Ho doubted if the board could undertake such control, and believed that it would be better to set up a council along the lines suggested rather than give the board the power. The board, in attending to export matters, would have plenty of do. Whether the board should be under the direct control of such a council was a matter for discussion, but probably it would be desirable. The suggested council should not be an elective body, but the appointments should be on a more or less permanent basis, which would overcome interference by vested interests and from po- j litical sources. The council would have to be given very wide powers to achieve the desired results, but there was no doubt that wide powers were necessary. The question of domestic control was a very wide one and a contentious one, and whatever action was taken would need to be firm. Probably a council consisting of, say, throe members could be set up, and there was no doubt that much could be achieved. The effect of a reduction in the export tonnage of produce as regarded the price factor and the question of goodwill at Home were very problematical. He doubted if a better price would be secured, and the question arose as to what other lines dairy | farmers could adopt if they had to decrease their outputs; particularly in view of the fact that the Dominion’s meat quota had been almost reached. The question of gaining goodwill had been almost settled as the result of statements by Major W. E. Elliot, the British Minister of Agriculture, who said very definitely that he intended to protect the British farmer at all costs. Possibly some members of the Imperial Government would be influenced to some extent, but jt was extremely doubtful if anything would be achieved in that direction. There were great prospects for an increased domestic consumption of cheese, butter, milk and cream, said Mr Winks, but some definite organisation was necessary. This was a question that the suggested supreme council could very profitably investigate. In regard to cheese, he did not think

that domestic sales could be stimulated until all cheese for local consumption was graded. That was his considered opinion after making a strong effort to launch an “eat more cheese” campaign.

At present cheese was sold simply as cheese, and a good deal of it would not induce the public to buj' more. Factory managers sometimes had a line that they would not face the grader with, and consequently it was sold to grocers, often at a cheap price. Purchasers of that class of cheese were then apt to class all makes alike. If the cheese were graded as for export, then there would be great scope for increased domestic trade, but not otherwise.

The consumption of raw milk could, and should, be increased very considerably, and possibly the co-operation of the Health Department, Education Department, and the Department of Agriculture would be most helpful in a Dominion-wide campaign. The consumption per head of population was very low in comparison with other countries, and a sustained educational campaign was necessary. He also advocated the supply of free milk to school children, and believed that the Government could profitably bear the cost. A very substantially increased consumption of cream eouid also be brought about if supplies were made

available at a reasonable price. In regard to milk and cream supplies, however, some co-ordination in distribution was very necessary, and that also was a matter that could be investigated by the suggested council. There were many avenues of development and, properly organised, a profitable return could be secured for the producers, with a definite benefit to the public. .