DAIRY INDUSTRY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 123, 23 April 1940, Page 5

DAIRY INDUSTRY

PROBLEMS OF TO-DAY. SEVERAL POINTS DISCUSSED. Problems now facing the dairy industry in New Zealand, the methods undertaken to overcome them, with also a general, review of the present position of the industry, were touched oil in addresses given to representatives of dairy factory directorates from the Horowjienua, Dlanawatu and Ra,npitikei at a gathering in Palmerston North yesterday. There were present at i the meeting Dlessrs W. E. Hale (chairman of the New Zealand Dairy Produce Board), A. Linton (the representative on the board lor this district), C. H. Courtney (secretary of the board) and R. A. Candy (chairman of the Herd Recording Council). There j was, an audience of over twenty persons. The most serious problem was that of winning tho war, said Dir Linton. H‘c outlined the agreements made with the British Government at the outbreak o'f the hostilities, the price decided on being capable of review each year. It would be undesirable to try to profiteer at Great Britain’s expense during the war, and tlie agreement made bad precluded this. Dlatters in dispute with the New Zealand Government had been held in abeyance for the duration of the conflict. Increases in production bad to be striven for, because Great Britain had, by reason of the war, lost the importation of 200,000 tons of butter annually from the Baltic and Central European countries, and it was possible that these importations would never be fully restored. On the other side, last year’s exports of New Zealand butter were 30,000 tons less than in 1030, a.ncl the cheese exports were 22.000 tons below tho peak figure in recent years. This meant a loss in national income of £5,000,000 annually. However, unless the Government gave more serious consideration to the problems of - the farming industry, and unless other sections of the community were willing to fall more in line with the farming community, particularly as to the hours of work, it did not seem to be possible that there would be any large, or immediate, increase in production. Proceeding, Dir Linton touched on the development of investigations into animal diseases at ltuakura and \YalJaceville. Dir Linton said the board and the Forestry Department were now most .desirous that dairy factories should carry larger stocks of blitter boxes than formerly. That was one point in which the company directorates could co-operate heartily. The Rongotea Dairy Company had agreed to do this and were to be thanked. The price this year was about the same at last year’s, about Is 10jd iter box, whereas the prices for other 1 arming commodities, such as fencing wire, had increased. If there were a fire in any of the factories producing boxes the position of supplies in this district would be chaotic. If dairy factories bold stocks they would be in a very much safer position and would be thereby aiding the industry and the nation. Mr Hale then gave an outline of problems which had forced production down in recent years, with, also, proposals bv which production could be increased. No questions were asked at the conclusion of Dir Hale’s address. CONFERENCE REPRESENTATIVES The following were elected, in a ballot, as the district representatives to the Dominion Dairy Conference: Dlessrs J. Boyce, S. A. Broadbelt, CG. C. Dormer and J. Dl. Devine. In moving the remit, Dir Stent said there was a need for such a remit. By it the mail who paid promptly would not be penalised in any way.