DAIRY INDUSTRY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 19 April 1934, Page 7

DAIRY INDUSTRY

MR GOODFELLOW’S PROPOSALS DEVELOPING NEW MARKETS (By Telegraph— PreßS Association) AUCKLAND, 18th April. Mr William Goodfellow, in replying to various criticisms of his ten-point programme for the dairy industry, added that he sympathised with the Prime Minister in his efforts to shield his colleagues, Messrs Coates and Masters. Nobody had suggested that there was any panic at the dairy conference, but he believed something worse than that would have happened if the conference had been aware of the subsequent methods used by Cabinet to deal with the Dairy Board. The board undoubtedly had been subjected to extreme pressure, and statements had been made by a responsible Minister which clearly indicated both' panic and ignorance. Fortunately, after the board had been badgered into submission, the British Government settled the matter satisfactorily by stating that a quota was not now wanted, The critical stage had now been passed, and he expressed the opinion that the growing resentment of 94 per cent, of the British public who had to pay higher prices, mostly to foreigners, as a result of the bacon quota, would prevent any further discussion of a dairy quota with the Dominions. In the future, if matters were allowed to rest for a year or so. a preferential tariff in favour of Empire produce, but based on reciprocal trade, was more likely, therefore there was an urgent need for tariff and exchange reductions to encourage British imports. Finally, said Mr Goodfellow, Mr Forbes’s statements regarding the development of new markets were incorrect. As managing director of Amalgamated Dairies. Ltd. he (Mr Goodfellow) was responsible for the marketing of about 25 per cent, of New Zealand’s butter exports and a large quantity oh other produce, and he felt he was well qualified to speak on this question. The Government could depend on his company’s full co-operation in any scheme to benefit the industry, hut what he very strongly objected to was the introduction of doubtful marketing experiments. Although it was possible that other and smaller markets could be developed over a long period of years, the United Kingdom was our only big customer, and there was no worthwhile alternative market. AUCKLAND FARMERS’ RESOLUTION “BETRAYAL OF INTERESTS” AUCKLAND, This Day. The Farmers’ Union resolved that in view of the precarious position of the dairy industry and the rumoured subjection of the Dairy Board to control by a board of three Government nominess, a campaign be initiated to prevent any such betrayal of the dairy farmers’ interests. One speaker, Capt. F. Colbcck, said, there was no mystery about, the factors at work. The Government was determined to get a quota established before' the report of the Tariff Commission went before Parliament. It would then be able to dismiss the question of lowering the tariffs. LABOUR PARTY’S SOLUTION OUTLINED BY MR SAVAGE WELLINGTON, This Day. “There is oiily one rational method of handling the problem and the industry,’ ’said the Labour Leader, Mr M. J. Savage, to-day in a v statement regarding the dairy industry and the existing impasse between the Government and Dairy Board, “and that is to determine what you want the dairy farmer to produce and then pay him a price f°r his product that will cover the cost of materials used in production and payment for labour. This payment must cover a legitimate return for all those who usefully employ their time on or off the farm in connection with the industry. The drudgery of many farmers’ wives should he ended, but in anv ease payment for labour should include the time of. all workers, whether sons, daughters, wives, employees and the farmer himslef brought down to simple propositions.” Mr Savage said the Labour Party would introduce the following methods to maintain and extend the dairy industry:— (I) A guaranteed price for butterfat; (2) security of tenure to farmers competently using, their land; (3) readjustment of, mortgages and land costs on” the basis of guaranteed prices; (4) negotiated agreements with Great Britain and other countries for the marketing of dairy produce, with reciprocal contracts for importation of goods which cannot ho economically pioduced in the Dominion; (5) organised marketing, internal and external; (G) organised publicity to promote an understanding of the food values of milk and dairy produces and the encouragement of increased use of milk for the promotion of health, particularly of children; (7) rationalisation of the dairy industry by the zoning of milk and cream routes and coordination of administrative functions; (H) close co-operation with the British farmers and co-operative distributive organisations in Great Britain and other countries;; (9) “The exploration of new markets is the only possible and profitable road to approach a solution of the existing problem,” said Mr Savage. “To find the market for our products in and out of New Zealand and then set out to produce the goods for it, and see that those who produce them are paid a price or wage in accord with their services and the resources of the Dominion. This can only be achieved bv organisation and control of external and internal trade in our primary products.” 1