Stabilising Butter Prices

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7268, 22 September 1933, Page 7

Stabilising Butter Prices

Price-Cutting on Local Market Deplored

PROPOSALS ADOPTED BY DAIRY CONFERENCE

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Last Night,

The first Dominion conference convened by tho Dairy Produce Board concluded this afternoon.

Proposals for a more equitable system of marketing butter sold locally were discussed and were accepted as a genuine attempt by the industry to overcome the chaotic conditions under which price-cutting was general. The proposals, which embody the setting up of a New Zealand local stabilisation committee, without interference with the existing system _ of factories patting for local supplies, were endorsed. London parity will bo tho basis of prices, but with reasonable cost for patting and distribution. A somowhat similar report on the marketing of checso in New Zealand was also discussed, but delegates pointed out there were vory many more difficulties in handling tho local marketing of cheese than was tho case with butter. Tho noed for maturing cheese and the consequent cost of accommodating local market checso on the shelves for a considerable period were pointed out as difficulties, but eventually the proposals were carried, subject to slight modification. Unanimous support was given to the action of the Department of Agriculture in introducing milk grading. Speakers were emphatic in stressing the need for, a still further improvement in quality and considered that milk gaTding was a very big step forward in the industry.

Approval was also givon to regulations brought down by tho Department of Agriculture concerning the waxing of cheese. It was considered inadvisable to take any' action toward actually eliminating tho waxing of cheese altogether until such time as results from the experimental factory in the Waikato, which is being conducted by the Dairy Division this season, arc made known.

Entire satisfaction with the Dairy Board as tho effective head of tho industry was expressed by the conference.

Dairy Board Election. IMPROVEMENTS IN METHOD URGED. Por Press Association. WELLINGTON, Sept. 21. The method of tho election of Dairy Board members was considered by the dairy conference and the view was hold that the method was not democratic, as had been proved by tho recent election, A committee consisting of one delegate from each ward was set up to investigate the system of the election of primary producers’ boards overseas. The committee is to make a recommendation to the next conference of the system best suited to the New Zealand dairy industry. Consideration was given to a scheme brought down for the unified marketing of butter on the New Zealand market. It was made clear that there was no intention of attempting to secure a premium on butter sold locally over and above overseas parity, so that the New Zealand consumer would not be affected. The conference emphatically supported a suggestion that farm dairy instruction bo instituted on a Dominionwide basis on the block system.

A suggestion that in cream grading there should be only two grades, instead of three as at present, was negativod.

Tho conference decided that the board should urge upon the Government the necessity for finding money for research work. Members pointed out that the Government was not honouring its obligation of providing £3500.