Meed To Change Policy To Increase Production

Northern Advocate, 21 July 1949, Page 4

Meed To Change Policy To Increase Production

OIiAEAWAJ, Tint. (Sp.).—*‘We are told very glibly—or rather the people ol.‘ England are told—that we are going to increase production, in the case of butter and cheese, by 16,000 tons of each commodity, and, at the same time, are going to raise the overall production of meat by 40,000 tons, excluding pigmeats. “It will require a lot more than the recently-announced reduction of fertiliser prices to do this. A complete change of policy regarding land development, land settlement, land prices and rehabilitation is needed.” The chairman of the Bay of Islands Cooperative Dairy Co., Ltd. (Mr S. W. Smith, M.P.) made these comments in his report to the annual meeting of suppliers at Ohaeawai on Tuesday.

He said that the most important event in the year under review, as far as the dairy industry was concerned, was the enlargement of the Dairy Board. This would allow better geographical representation and would enable the board to give greater service to the industry. Under the agreement with England, the industry's ncgMinfers had been successful in obtaining an increase of the maximum of 71 per cent, above last year's price, giving an increase of 17-6 per cwt and bringing the figure from 23a '- per ow to 252 6 per cwt. ST A BILIM IT ON FQ Lit Y •'lt will be remembered that for the months oi June and July, pending 3n agreement on price for the coming season, we were paid from our funds 4/6 per cwt to offset our established increases in costs,” Mr Smith said. "The chairman of the Dairy Commission i Mr Marshall) has intimated tliai. although we have received 17 6. u is not lo be taken that this will be paid out on a cost basis. We may get. less, with the balance lo be placed in the Stabilisation Aecoy.pt, though the

, increase should be 17/6 so far as Engi land is concerned, because that was ■ our case to the English people. * “Where are we heading for in our • stabilisation accounts?” Mr Smith l asked. FUTURE POSITION "Everyone is concerned about the , prices for the future and, without bci ing pessimistic, but being realistic, we are faced with some very pertinent , facts,” he continued. "Denmark has accepted a very big decrease in her contract price for butter, from 321/6 to 271/- per cwt, and. at that price, is geting just about the same premium as pre-war. "We know that her tonnage is now increasing rapidly and, in addition, the menace of margarine is well known. "It points the way to the advent of a buyers' market, and illustrates the instability of world economic conditions. "It prints, too, to the necessity of the maintenance of quality, and that begins in the individual ffa&k*