DAIRY OUTPUT

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24637, 16 July 1943, Page 5

DAIRY OUTPUT

GOOD STORE POSITION

FARM LABOUR PROBLEM (0.C.) \V HANGAR EI. Thursday

I'he position of produce storage in New Zealand was satisfactory, said Mr. A. J. Murdoch, northern ward member of the Dairy Board, when addressing shareholders at the annual meeting of the Hikurangi Dairy Company, Limited. to-day. There was storage for (30,000 tons, but only 25,000 tons of butter was in store and the country owed a debt to men of the Navy and mercantile marine for the manner in which shipping transport had been maintained.

Mr. Murdoch gave interesting figures regarding the effect of German occupation of European countries. A special committee operating in Britain, he said, had estimated that 11,000,000 cattle. 3,000,000 horses, 12,000,000 pigs and 11,000,000 sheep had been destroyed. With this position obtaining all that the Dominion could produce would have a market, but it was necessary that labour should be made available to enable greater production to he obtained.

"The Director of Manpower seems to have a distorted sort of vision regarding manpower," said Mr. Murdoch. The director talked of manpower for farms and manpower for the freezing works, but what was the use of it in the works if it was not available for greater production on the farms? Regarding an increase in the price of dairy produce, Mr. Murdoch said that if an increase was made to Australia it would automatically come to New Zealand, but the money would not go to the farmers. It would go into a stabilisation fund and any subsidies to" the farming community would bo offset against the fund. Otherwise it would upset the stabilisation plan. The meeting decide to endorse the motion passed at the national dairy conference asking the Government for a fair return for the farming cotnmunitv.

"BREAKING POINT REACHED"

THE SHORTAGE OF WORKERS 0.C.) GIKBOKXK, Thursday

We have reached breaking point

said Mr. M. Doyle, chairman of directors, at the annual meeting to-day of the Kia Ora Co-operative Dairy Company, Limited, when referring to the reduction'in butter output because of the shortage of labour on farms. The Gisborne district would be affected during the coming season, he continued. Numbers of farmers were selling out because they could not secure sufficient labour. They had carried on as long as possible with their families, but were now forced to give up dairying. Fewer cows were milked last year and fewer would be milked during the coining season. The British Government would take all the butter New Zealand could produce. Mr. Doyle added, but the country could not increase its production without the necessary labour.

CLEARING SALE SEASON ACTIVITIES IN WAIKATO A VARIETY OF CAUSES (0.C.) HAMILTON. Thursday Inquiries made among stock auctioneers in the Waikato this week as to whether the numerous clearing sales held in the Waikato this winter have had the effect of bringing about a reduction in the acreage devoted to dairying have produced inconclusive replies. It was pointed out that clearing sales are an annual feature of dairying activities in the Waikato and are brought about by a variety of causes. Some farmers who have reached the retiring age desire to relieve themselves of work and responsibility and soli their properties and stock. Others change their arrangements with sharemilkers from a thirds basis to a 50-50 basis under which the share-milkers handle their own herds. In a few cases dairymen change to sheep and cattle raising, but the instances are considered to he few. Several farms at Tuhikaramea and Rtihuhia have been leased by the Government and are being used for vegetable growing, but these are the only farms that could be pointed to definitely having gone out of dairying. One stock agent referred to the great recent influx of dairy stock from the King Country which had been absorbed in the Waikato. and said this factor indicated an increase in the number and size of Waikato herds. The consensus of opinion appeared to he that apart from the vegetable-grow-ing areas, the acreage lost to dairying in the Waikato is very small, if any. ARMY DESERTER OFFENCES WHILE HIDING A deserter from the Army who lived for a time in the bush at Katikati and stole food from houses at night, James Kairlie. aged 28, was brought before Mr. .Justice Fair yesterday for sentence (in four charges of breaking and entering and theft at Tauranga and Thames. His Honor said the probation oflieer gave prisoner a good report. He had stolen food to keep himself going while deserting, and in many cases he could have stolen money, but did not do so. He had been sentenced to six months' imprisonment on '25 charges of theft at Tauranga. His Honor said he would accept that, sentence as covering all the of fen cps that arose out fit the same circumstances. On the expiry of the term he was at present serving prisoner would be released on probation for three years on these charges. SPRING LAMB PRICES The top price for the four new season's Dorset Horn lambs which were sold at the Weslfield saleyards on Wee 1 - nesdav was ~ I 17s 'id. not 17s (id areported yesterday. The lambs were sold by Dalgety and Company, Limited, on behalf of Mr. If. J. Kelliher. Puketuiu Island. ENGLISH-SPE A KING UNION The second annual general meeting ol the Auckland branch of the KnglishSpcaking I uion was held this wcelc. the president. Canon IJ. (J. ('oats, presiding. 'flic election of officers included: President, C hnori I?. CJ. fonts (reelected); vice-presidents, Mif-.s A. R. Quayte. Mr. .ItiNiice [-'air. Mr. W. ("alder Mackny. Mr. 1,. A Kady. Mr. Matthew Cowley. CHARGES DENIED Four charges of indecently assaulting a male were preferred against Adol;ihus Donald Sincock, miner, aged Hi (Mr Aekins), before Mr. .J. Morling, SAL. yesterday. Accused pleaded not guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Hail was allowed.