DAIRY PRODUCTION

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6943, 24 June 1929, Page 10

DAIRY PRODUCTION

Publication of Returns -

ATTITUDE OF COMPANIES

Opinion is divided among dairy camj panics regarding the advisability of j ceasing the periodical announcements | of the quantities of butter and cheese 'graded at the port of Auckland. Acting on the representation of a majority of companies throughout the province, the Auckland Farmers’ Freezing Company has decided to cease the publication of fortnightly returns, the view being advanced by certain supplying companies that the broadcast; of such figures is not in the best interests of producers. There arc oS factories making butter in the Auckland Province and 21 making cheese. The freezing company’s decision was made following what were stated to bo insistent requests by suppliers, a majority of whom was averse to returns being made public some weeks before they appeared in the monthly Abstract of Statistics issued by the Government. As the freezing company is not the owner of the butte/ and cheese passing through its stores it was forced to bow to the wishes of the majority of suppliers. In spite of the fact that a majority is stated to have expressed its disapproval of periodical announcements bfcing made, numerous dairy companies were not consulted before it was decid|cd to observe secrecy in regard to quantities of produce graded each fortnight. It was pointed out by Mr. J. If. Beeson, chairman of directors of the Mcrrinsvillc Dairy company, in a letter in the New Zealand Herald that no mention of the change in policy was made at recent meetings of the North Auckland and South Auckland dairy' associations. Mr. Lecson stated his company favoured the publication of returns, but it had not been approached for an opinion in spite of the fact that it sent 1200 tons of produce through the stores each year. “The refusal to issue fortnightly statements can only be characterised as silly,” remarked a representative of another largo supplying company yesterday. “Our company has not been consulted in any way, and it is a considerable surprise to learn that a majority of companies has refused to allow the dissemination of information of great interest to producers in particular, and to the public in general. There is no point in the argument advanced that the publication of production figures is not in the best interests of producers. It is suggested that London buyers or speculative interests can take advantage of published returns to the detriment of the vendor, but there is no proof whatever that, this is so. “On the contrary, we have found that companies and producers generally welcome a periodical review of a season’s produce returns, and these have proved of great interest throughout the jrovincc. If figures ultimately are to be made public by the Government (here can be no reason for-de-laying their announcement, it. would appear that certain companies have objected to a continuance of announcements and have seen lo it for their own purposes that no more shall be made. Buch announcements never have been detrimental to our own trade.”