Dairy Board’s Work Reviewed

Northern Advocate, 27 July 1938, Page 9

Dairy Board’s Work Reviewed

In fulfilment of a promise made some months ago Mr. A. J. Murdoch. National Party candidate for Marsdcn, lias retired from the chairmanship of the New Zealand Dairy Board. Delivering his valedictory address td the board recently Mr. Murdoch gave an interesting outline of the board's activities during his three years as chairman. Marketing regulations providing for Ihe management of overseas produce were among the most important of the early considerations facing the board, he said. The board’s scheme met with the general approval of the industry and was later absorbed in the present Government's plan. Serious attention to the Dominion Farm Dairy Instruction had been given by the board in 1935. continued Mr. Murdoch. Provision was made on the board's estimates for the expenditure of £IO,OOO on a £1 for £1 subsidy basis. “Indications have now been given by the Government that the Agricultural Department will approve of a scheme on a basis of 60 per cent payment by the industry and 40 per cent, by the government, and the board's subsidy will not be required,” continued Mr. Murdoch.

Important Researches. Close association was kept with the Research Institute (on which Messrs. Murdoch, Linton and Marchant represented the board) and funds were annually voted by the board towards this end. The present vote was £7OOO. Dr. Hucker, noted American specialist. had visited New Zealand with the object of examining the mammitis question, and, by means of the board’s herd testing department had been enabled to carry out very important trials which were being continued throughout the country. A further development into animal disease research was that being carried out through the sire survey branch of the herd testing department. It was considered that very valuable information regarding disease resistance and transmitting properties would be obtained through this department. Butter-box Pools, When the Government decided on a butter box pooling scheme the board was delegated to put it into effect and through many difficulties presented themselves, it was finally done in the best interests of the producers, continued Mr. Murdoch. A committee was set up comprising representatives from the Dairy Board', the State Forest Service, and the New Zealand Boxmakers’ Association. The output capacity of each boxmaker was ascertained and a total assessment at a per box average was calculated. Administrative expenses were added to the total cost and the resultant average was set as the average pool selling price. The board had unanimously adopted the suggestion of the committee to make the pool price for 1938-39 a delivered one instead of an ex box factory price as in the past. This would complete the policy of equalising box costs to all dairy companies, there being previously a wide variation in freight charges from box factory to dairy factory. Although accounts were not available, it appeared that there would be a surplus available to factories of approximately jd per box. The industry stood more firmly behind the board than ever before, continued Mr. Murdoch. The board’s work had changed much, but it had been able to adapt itself to changed conditions and to achieve much of value. He believed that the industry would once again assume complete control of its own business.

Mr. Murdoch’s successor to the chair is Mr. W. E. Hale, of the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company, Limited.