PRODUCE IN STORE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 154, 1 June 1937, Page 5

PRODUCE IN STORE.

DAIRY COMPANY STOCKS. REPLY TO THE MINISTER. Recently publicity was given to the largo quantity of dairy produce held in store by the Okoia and Wangaehu Cooperative Dairy Companies, in the Wanganui district, since when tho actingMinisler of Marketing (Hon. W. Lee Martin) replied to tho effect that, compared with last year, tho shipping space has been well spread and, notwithstanding an increaso in the volume of produce this season as against last, the two companies referred to are not seriously in arrears as regards shipping space. The Minister’s reply has been referred to the secretary of the Okoia and Wangaehu companies, who in turn has referred it to the yespective chairmen. The chairmen have made the following statement in reply: “The chairmen feel that the thanks of the companies are due to the Minister for his attention, which shows that he is watching the position closely. A slight error was made in the original statement. Okoia’s butter was on May 21 shipped up to March 3 make, and Wangnehu’s to March 2 make, so that shipments aro about three days behind last year. This, however, is a minor matter, and a comparison between this and last year was not intended. “There is a difference between this ycar and last in that last year the butler was the property of the dairy companies, and any benefit from, spreading shipments would accrue to the companies. This year it is the property of the Government, and any benefits that may be derived from late shipments will go to the credit of the Government’s dairy account. The dairy companies’ contention is that, as j that fund will benefit, that fund should bear ihe cost of holding. At present the two. -companies, Okoia and AVangaehu, have in store butter valued at £49,000, on which tho Government has not paid one penny, while the companies have had to pay their suppliers for all butterfat up to April 30. Okoia has 11,045 boxes of butter and Wangaehu 5775 boxes in store. The storage on all this butter will run into three months and will cost the two companies £ll9l. “The general feeling of tho industry is that the Government should pay for the butter earlier, and bear the storage after the first month. Several remits on this matter will bo brought before the National Dairy Conference in June and the matter will be well ventilated at that conference.”