FARMERS’ PROBLEMS

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6919, 27 May 1929, Page 10

FARMERS’ PROBLEMS

Produce and Markets Dl VERGENT OPINIONS Produce and m;u kcting questions were «.lil during the conference or' tbo ,\ri' h.biml branches of the .fc’a mill's’ ITiion last. week. A remit objectin to any but producers’ representatives on the As’ew Zealand Dairy .L’to-(hn-e board amis approved. The Day of islands branch expressed the opinion that the government had no special interest to conserve, while the present method of election more than safeguarded proprietary interests. Air. G. -Moody said the fanners were quile able to manage their own business. Mr. 11. M c(J ready considered the boat'll hud been wrongly constructed in the first place and no interference' was required . Testing and Grading. .Divergent opinion was expressed regarding. a .remit that the testing and grading of milk and cream at dairy laetories should bo carried out by qualified government officers. (Several li'dega Ics wished to see a government service established, but others object-

'd mi tiie. score "i increased overhead charges. -Mr. if. K. Hal rick said rivalry between co-operative and proprietary concerns had evoked the remit, lie thought a Government service should be established and the cost should lie borne by the industry as a whole, in which wav small factories could no! lie penalised.

Mr. (!. 8. (.'lark considered the scheme would be impracticable. Air. K. AleCorquindaio and Mr. C. J. Harkncss objected to government interference. The latter said lie was afraid overhead costs would become too great. That the co-operative concerns had no' use for cheek-graders and testers was stated by Mr. P. Hawke.

Air. H. O. Mcllsop instanced the different results achieved by testers and stated a uniform system would be most desirable. Importance of Quality. ‘‘The quality of produce is most important and we must take steps to keep up the standard,” said Air. W. Boyd. “There must be no slipping back. Any reform which will help llie industry must be carried out.”

ft wtis decided to urge that government; graders be appointed, provided ‘‘a practicable and equitable basis of costs on a butter-fat basis over the whole industry .can bn devised, and that, such officers be moved at reasonable intervals.” The remit is to be forwarded to the National Hairy conference as well as to the Dominion executive.

A remit urging the necessity for (lie closer co-ordination of co-operative dairy companies in marketing produce was supported by Mr. E. H. Feisst, who said there were too many companies competing against each other. The remit was carried. _ It was decided to request the National Dairy association 1o convene an early Dominion conference.