Dairy Board’s Work

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7211, 18 July 1933, Page 3

Dairy Board’s Work

REVIEW BY ACTING-CHAIRMAN.

. A review of the operations of the Daily Produco Board was given dairy company delegates in wards 5 and G l)y Mr. Dynes Pulton, acting-chairman of the board, at a conference held in Palmerston North yesterday. Mr. C. Cl. C. Bernier was' in the chair. Mr. Fulton stated that prior to the board's inception there were no shipping inspections. Now every vessel was thoroughly examined for cleanliness and maintenance of even temperatures, and breakages had been reduced to a minimum. The board was now insisting on the provision of thermographs on every vessel under tho new shipping contract being negotiated. fcSinee it came into existence* the board had effected a saving of £355,74.0. It had relieved dairy companies of a great deal of work concerning the British.lmports Tariff Act and the operation of the exchange pool. Shipping arrangements for the huge quantity of produco handled to-day entailed a great deal of .work.

Butter exported from tho North Island in . the 1931-32 season was 3,781,004 boxes, and for the season just ended 4,85,000 boxes, Mr. Pulton added. Cheese exported for the 1931-32 period from the North Island was 9G4,00G crates and for the season just ended 1,151,300 crates. The North Island in the past season exported 95.91 per cent, of the Dominion’s butter and 82.04 per cent, of its cheese. Dealing with tho proposal that the board should carry its own marine insurance, Mr. Pulton said that despite a request from the N.D.A. Conference for a further investigation, he was still convinced that while the principle was sound it would be a grave risk for the board to undertake its own insurance in a period of low prices. A reserve fund • of at least £500,000 would be required for a start. Some ships leaving New Zealand carried produce valued at over £1,000,000, and if one such ship was sunk it would give the board a setback from which it would take years to recover. Every penny whieli could bo released to the farmers at present should be made available. The board had a very satisfactory insurance agreement, covering a wide field and including the possible event of a further earthquake. Big savings had been effected in insurance premiums, and at would be difficult to improve on the present scheme. The board members were of the'opinion that if the supplies from Australia last year had been regulated as well as those, from New Zealand, such a great ouantity of butter would n6t have accumulated .in England. Co-operation was necessary, with Australia to avoid overlapping and competition, he added. Australia had put her dairy house in order and had enormous production possibilities. If dairying were taken up on the same basis as in New Zealand, the Commonwealth’s output would be colossal. New Zealand should work as far as practicable with Australia, at the same time preserving her own enThe necessity existed, said Mr. Pulton, for a vigorous advertising campaign by Australia and New Zealand in conjunction. Australia had agreed that £20,000 to £25,000 should be spen this year in this direction. The board had decided on Wednesday mst to increase the levy for butter by l-64d and for cheeso by 1-1283. That was estimated to produce £25,000, which it was proposed to spend m a joint advertising campaign with Australia. The board had two representatives travelling the -whole of their time and calling on shops in England. That had been very effective, and there was scope for more activity in that direction. New Zealand had to do a lot more than she had in the past to advertise the quality of her produce. An “eat more butter and cheese’’ campaign should be instituted, supported by Empire sentiment It had been frequently stated that the board had taken no steps to find •new markets, said Mr. Pulton, but Hon. B. Masters had been approached and •the demand had increased m Eastern ports. The board had been in contact ■with the most reliable points, but it -would be dangerous to send goods unless a return equal to that obtained at Home was received. Inquiry had shown that really there was little opening m the East, and Australia had undercut New Zealand so that it was more prot liable to send the produce to Britain. Mr. Fulton’s own company had spent a great deal on advertising in Eastern markets, but the progress was slow and it did not at present warrant an extension “We cannot look forward to expanding our Eastern markets unless something very unforeseen happens, but ther has been nothing left undone, said Mr. Pulton. Ho quoted figures to show that from July 1, 1931, to May 1 last, butter shipments in boxes to the East included the following: ndia, 1363; Burma, 306; Ceylon 392 Philippines, 592; Shanghai and Hongkontr, 1875; Japan, 1355. •. The meeting supported the following New Zealand Dairy Produce Board be urged to initiate conversations with British importers with a view to co-ordinated effort to overcome the disabilities- and loss suffered y producers and distributors arising from our present unorganised methods of marketing. That such conversations should cover: —(1), the value and influence. of f.o.b. sales aad the extent, if any, to which they should be restrained or controlled; (2), the method by which Tegular supplies may be assured to sound distributive organisations; (3), a method unifying procedures to prevent tho concealment of inefficiency; (4), the prohibition of sales of consignment produce by agents before arrival; (5), the establishment of nn audit system, if necessary, to ensure compliance with agreements; (6), the desirability of encouraging new distributors in new districts; (7), the desirability of arranging for a monthly steamer'service to Hull and East Coast ports with a view to developing a similar service to that operating to West Coast ports; (8), the question of more effectually linking up advertising and sales effort by extending the distribution of pat butter under the national brand; and-by any other effective and 'acceptable means.”.