ELIMINATING WASTE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21935, 19 October 1934, Page 10

ELIMINATING WASTE

The report of the Dairy Commission proves beyond all question that the industry is losing a large sum each year through overlapping in cream collections, and in some other ways. Its estimates of the possible national savings in cream transport costs may be on the extravagant side seeing that from only two districts, Manawatu and Waikato, were actual details obtained. It is questionable if the costs of overlapping in these two districts can be taken as a Dominion average to justify flhe calculated possible saving of £150,000 a year. *No one with a comprehensive knowledge of the industry, however, could challenge the general finding upon this aspect of the problem, and it will be surprising if the producers' organisations do not sup- | port the zoning system of cream collection that is recommended. The proposal is that the Dairy Produce Control Board should have power to carry out the zoning system by defining collection routes, arranging for the collection of cream from side roads by one lorry on behalf of all companies concerned, by arranging transport contracts, and by effecting the amalgamation of companies where possible. The loss that overlapping causes cannot be accurately computed. As the commission states, it leads to the quality of cream being impaired, it causes damage to roads, and it produces factory practices that are not in the best interests of the industry. Among the malpractices mentioned are the lowering of the standard of cream grading, the manipulation of weights and butterfat tests, the relaxation of the cooperative principle as to shareholding, the granting of loans on inadequate security and the departure from the vital system of daily collections. As with small local bodies, so, perhaps, with certain dairy factories, the idea of merging may often be resisted upon inadequate grounds. There is therefore a strong case for investigation by special committees appointed by the Control .Board of what appear to be good opportunities for the amalgamation of factories. The transport of the manufactured produce has been examined with care, and the Railway Department has submitted a lengthy review of its policy. The recommendation is that the Control Board should have power to make contracts with the Railway Department and other transport authorities. Finally there is an insistent demand for the arrangement of ocean freight contracts, which would bring about more regular deliveries in the Home market. This section of the report faces practical problems that should be within reach of early solution.