DAIRYMEN CONFER

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9692, 21 June 1917, Page 3

DAIRYMEN CONFER

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING AT PALMERSTON NORTH. PROBLEMS TO BE FACED. From Our Special Xicportcr. PAL3IHK-STON, June 20. Matters of coxitii<lez'able Import to the clairr industry yore discussed at the annual meeting of the National Dairy Association of New Zealand, Ltd., "which opened at Fulmerston to-day. Mr A. Morton, president or tho association, took tho chair over a very largo attendance of dairymen from all parts of New Zealand, PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. In moving the adoption of the annual report ana baiance-sireet Mr Morton sa.M that on tno past twelve mouths they had every reason to congratulate themselves, in the lace of all the diiticulties they had increased their production and maintained tho quality. lo show the wonderful growtn. of tho in** dustry there was the lact that in ISJO tho butter and cheese export trade totalled and in liila it had imnned to A'a.mWO. The total at tho cud of April, 11)17, was JiG,3--I,OOU. iheu tho conditions in April, 191 V, were very unusual, as there was a largo quantity of butter and cheese in stock. "With this the total produce was increased to T7,€7-i,hUO. In addition there was the amount consumed m the Dominion, worth a trout U million. This brought the annual production up to During the past year they had had an extreme range in climatic conditions. In 'fact they had never experienced euca unusual weather, lu Auckland particularly they had been favoured with heavyrains and the production had been very largo. In Taranaki, on the other the production had suffered owing to the exceptional!v dry weather. Turning to the quality of tho produce this had been splendidly maintained, and there had been practically no comt>Uints. All the produce landed in Eng* land had been quite equal to previous years, SHIPPING DIFFICULTIES. Dealing with the question of transport the chairman said this was one of the i most difficult problems. The conditions had become so acute that very largo stocks were in store. Unless the {position altered they had the prospect of commencing the season a largo amount of last year's stock in hand. Representations hnd been made to tne Government, but with little result. However. within the next fortnight stronger representations would be made. As _ to whether these would result in an improvement he coulci not say. THE STORAGE PROBLEM. Storage for tho stock in hand was another big problem. It was impossible to get new works and instal new machinery, as the machinery was not obtainable. Unless an improvement were made they would have to get extra storage. The Government had referred the matter to a board for consideration. THE CHEESE PURCHASE. One of the important matters of the year was the purchase by the' Government of the cheese of the Dominion. It was possible that before the financial position would bo settled by the Government in this respect. Unless this wero done soon, however, dairymen would be placed in the awkward position of not knowing how they stood financially for the next season. Referring to the butter levy, the speaker said that if the levy ceased at the end of June, as promised by tho Government, then the maximum and retail prices fixed must also cease. These were matters for consideration during the next few months. Parliament was to consider the plotter, and tho dairymen would take steps to see that the butter levy—an injustice to the industry —was removed. Petitions to Parliament in this respect were to bo presented. WHAT OF THE COMING SEASON? A big question to bo faced by dairymen was what was to become of next season's output. Tho Government would probably purchase the cheeso output, and dairymen would see that they got a better price than last season’s output. (Applause.) Dairymen also would want to know' how Canadian producers had been given a better price than local dairymen. Then tho question of financing dairymen would have to be considered by the Government. They would have to impress on the Government that assistance in this respect was absolutely necessary. THE LABOUR. SHORTAGE. Labour, too, was a very big difficulty to be faced. The First Division -would be soon exhausted. In regard to tho Second Division the speaker knew that three-fourths of their factory managers were in this division. “If food production is not going to range before men for tho front then it seems to mo that the position in ' regard to the carrying on of our industries is going to bo very difficult." The position was such that a large number of Taranaki factories had decided to change from butter to cheese manufacture. Other factories would follow, and as increased labour was necessary for the manufacture of cheese the labour question would ■ be more acute. Representations would be made to Parliament on these matters. The supply of timber, for bos and crate-making was a, serious matter for the industry. There was a large quantity of white pine exported to Australia, and as this timber was wanted in New Zealand the export should bo stopped. A committee was to go into this matter and show the true position to the Government. REPORT DISCUSSED. Au animated discussion on the report followed. Mr J. Marx stressed the necessity for concerted action in the direction of improving the storage and shipping problems. They were at the door of a new season and something had to Ire done. Tho speaker's own dairy company was prepared to give ,£2OOO to improve matters. “If it costs ns two hundred, or even three hundred, pounds to build stores,” said the speaker, “then it is better than risking millions.” Mr P. Nathan remarked that the Government was as much in tho dark as dairymen were. The president had said that they could not get the machinery from Home. The remedy was that they manufacture the machinery in New Zealand. Then they had to stop the slaughter of ewes and lambs and occupy the space they would monopolise with butter and cheese. Dairymen had to be up and doing in these matters. Mr G. Dash forcibly remarked that dairymen —Anglo-Saxons all of them—should not get their tails between their legs in the matter. They could expect help from America. Members also expressed themselves strongly against the price at which their cheese had been commandeered by the Government. Mr Buchanan (Thames Valley) said he took it that under the laws of the Imperial Government any British goods commandeered should br' paid for at the ruling market value. ./Dairymen should demand that they paid accordingly. Questioned about the labour problem, the chairman said, that it was realised it was useless going on with the question to the Government until the Prims Minister arrived. Mr Nathan said that .when tha depu-

tation approached th© Prime Minister it should be as large as possible. At this stage the motion that the annual report be adopted was carried, GENERAL BUSINESS. The five retiring directors, Messrs A, Morton (Egmont village), H. D. Forsyth (Kftliam), W. D. Powurell (Kaupokonm), T. Bassett (North Wairoa), and E. Allen (Cambridge), were rc-elcctcd. Mr C. i). Morpeth was re-elected auditor. In answer to a question by a member, the chairman said that although at the present lime the association had a credit balance he estimated that in u few weeks the association’s bank account would be very much overdrawn. There was a lengthy and animated discussion on a motion by Mr Cotter (Masterton) that tho number of directors to the association be increased from seven to eleven. As an amendment, Mr Connett (Bell Block; moved that the number of directors be increased from seven Eventually tlie amendment was carried by a large majority. A further motion was moved by Mr Connett that the nine directors Ix 3 allocated. as follows*. —Auckland three, Taranaki three, Wellington and Hawke’s Bay three, and that the term of office be for three years; that the directors retire annually in rotation, such retirement to be by ballot, and that each district elect its own member. A point of order was raised by a member that notice of motion should have been given. This was upheld by the chairman, so the matter was adjourned until next annual meeting. s PROPOSED SHIPPING SCHEME. On behalf of Mr Marx, the president moved the reconsideration of a resolution put forward at tho last annual meeting, to the effect that tho meeting considered that the time had arrived for tho dairy industry to join with the meat and wool producers in becoming part-owners of ships for carrying their produce. Tho speaker said that if the proposal wore to bo gone on with the fairest way was to levy on all the producers of the Dominion. The producers must, in addition, have Government assistance and a Government subsidy," Unless the basis on which the capital was going to be raised was a broad one, that it would embrace all tho producers of the Dominion, the speaker was sure that tho scheme would hardly be a success. Mr Forsyth (Eltham) seconded tho resolution. t Mr P. Nathan suggested that the resolution might be more definite. For instance, tho meeting could make a recommendation that 'the producers combine and that a tax of per cent, be imposed on all produce leaving the Dominion until fivo million pounds had accumulated. Mr Williams considered that the Government should raise the money and recoup itself out of the money accruing from the tax suggested by Mr Nathan. "Wo must keep clear of tho trusts/* said tho speaker. "You can see every day that the trusts are getting stronger, and we must not get into their hands/* Mr Price (Levin) pointed out that the meeting had evidently forgotten that the ships would be only loaded one way. The scheme should be run in the interests of the whole of the Dominion. As far as he was concerned, however, he did not think th© time was ripe for such a scheme. Finally tho following motion was proposed bv Mr Nathan and carried: — "That tho meeting is of the opinion that the Government should raise a sum of money and install a lino of shipping steamers to carry New Zealand produce, and that a percentage levy be mad© on the 'producers to repay the money expended, less any sum the Government might supplement/* MOTIONS CARRIED. Without any discussion a motion was passed protesting against the butter-fat levy. The advisability of altering the standard size of cheese cases so as to contain one cheese only was discussed with, a view to the utilisation of timber. A motion to this effect was carried.