DAIRY OUTPUT

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24531, 13 March 1943, Page 8

DAIRY OUTPUT

THE RECENT DECLINE DIFFICULTIES OF FARMERS Commenting on Lite declines of 191b*. ami 161b. of butter-fa i per cow in the Dominion during the past two seasons, Mr. A. J. .Sinclair, secretary-manager of the Te Awamiitu Co-operative Dairy Company, Limited, and a member ol the Dairy Industry Council, said that the figures were most disquieting. Climatically the 11)10-11 season had been one ot ihe best lor several years, lull the production of 2M211). of butterVat per cow in that year had fallen a long way short of the figure ol 2501b, assessed by tin- Miiiistei of Marketing in I'J.'iS, the Hon. \V. Nasli, when announcing the Government's decision to pay 11.Slid per lb. l'or butter under the guaranteed price scheme. The industry protested strongly at the time, claiming that the Minister's assessment had been arbitrarily made ou ft basis which ignored the unanimous recommendation from a joint committee set up by the Government and the industry

Question to be Reopened "Mr. Nash's high-handed action stili rankles,'' said Mr, Sinclair, "and many dairy farmers are glad he is returning to New Zealand, because they are determined that this subject must be reopened before there can be any question of agreeing to the Government's latest proposals for economic stabilisation. The industry has admittedly received a small increase of id per lb. this -season, following the British Government's decision to pay •slightly higher prices for dairy produce, but the standards laid down by Mr. Nash in 1.938 still stand. " In view of the conditions prevailing in other industries to-day, the dairy farmer feels bitter when Jie recalls that in 1938 Mr. Nash promised him a labour reward of £1 ]os weekly with a free house, provided he achieved the following three objectives: —His cows must average 2.1011). of butter-fat: each male unit of labour must he responsible for 6,2501b, of butter-fat; and the farmer must make a net profit from pigs equivalent to ljd per lb. of butter-fat. Labour Difficulties

" The returns now furnished by the Dairy Board," continued Mr. Sinclair, "show that the dairy herds of the Auckland Province averaged only 2091b. of butter-fat last season, and in North Auckland the average was only 3881 h. Harassed by labour problems, shortage of fertiliser, and an unfavourable season, the farmer faces a further decline this year, and this is unfortunate at a time when the shortage of edible fats in Britain is causing concern. The position has been aggravated by the Government's delay in tackling the problem of manpower, and many farmers havo already made arrangements to sell their herds." In the interests of the war effort, concluded Mr. Sinclair, the dairy farmer had been remarkably patient during the past three years. The whole industry, however, was determined to oppose strongly that aspect of the Government's economic stabilisation proposals which set as a basis the levels or prices and costs ruling 011 November 15 last, on the grounds that it would be just as equitable to ask manufacturers in other industries to sell their goods at the prices charged in 3938, or for a city worker to revert to the wage-levels of that year, and at the same time carry all the increased costs which have accrued in the interim. This subject, he said, would form one of the chief topics for discussion at the annua) conferences of the industry to be held shortly by the Dairy Board and the National Dairy Federation.

PIG INDUSTRY'S TRIALS PROPOSED BUYING SYSTEM (0.C.) PUKEKOHE, Friday "Tho proposal of the Minister of Agriculture for all fat pips to be paid for at hook values is causing grave concern among all those interested in the pig industry," stated Mr. H. E. Clark, supervisor to the Auckland District Pig Council, to-day. "The industry has had a very raw deal in recent years." It was proposed, said Mr. Clark, that any fat pigs purchased per head at saleyards or on the farm should be paid for at only ultimate hook values. This would cover butchers' requirements as well. .Both the Auckland council and the national council were of the unanimous opinion that this would virtually mean the elimination of the salevards as a distributing centre for all fat pigs, as no producer would be likely to auction his pigs and pay commission only to ultimately receive hook values. The repercussions would be most extensive. The serious shortage of breeding pigs in the Auckland Province was a matter lor grave concern, said Mr, Clark. In travelling round the province ho found no district adequately stocked to meet tho demand of the coining year. BUILDING BY-LAWS BREACHES ADMITTED Charged with breaches of the Waiteinata County Council's building bylaws, G, T. Roller pleaded guilty before Mr. F. H. Levien. S.M.. yesterday. Defendant was charged with converting a motor garage at Arldes Bay into a dwelling without obtaining a permit; failing to comply with the by-laws regarding the ilooring, light and ventilation of the dwelling; and with failure to obtain a permit to erect a shed near the dwelling. Mr. Kemble. represented the council. -The case was adjourned for a month to give defendant an opportunity to comply with tho by-laws. The magistrate said that if tho by-laws were not, complied with satisfactorily, he would be compelled to inflict a heavy penalty. SHOPLIFTING CHARGES A MONTH'S IMPRISONMENT After being remanded for a report from the probation officer William Edwin Burke, aged 42. single, soldier (Mr. Dickson), appeared before Mr. .1. H. Luxford, S.M., yesterday on five charges of shoplifting from Queen Street shops. Goods mentioned in the charges were valued at £6 IGs 9d. Accused pleaded guilty. The probation oflicer, Mr. J. Anderson, said there was another charge against accused. On the first charge accused was sentenced to one mouth's imprisonment and on the others be was convicted and discharged. When charged with indecent assault on a male, accused was remanded.