BOARD OF AGRICULTURE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9718, 21 July 1917, Page 2

BOARD OF AGRICULTURE

QUESTION OF COOL STORAGE HEC 03IME1XD ATIO-NS TO GOVERNMENT. The Hoard of held several lengthy meetings last week, at wMch matters of considerable moment to the farming community were dealt with. There was a large attendance of members of the board, only one member being absent through duties connected with the sitting of a Military Service Appeal Board. The boaitl held a lengthy consultation in regard to the provision of cool storage for dairy produce, and, in conduction with Mr Cuddie, Director of the Dairy Division of the Department of Agriculture, went most exhaustively into the question of the cool storage for butter and cheese at the various gazetted grading stores in the Dominion, and the possibility of extending some of these places to provide accommodation for larger quantities of dairy produce should there be a further diminution of our shipping facilities. The board also discussed the question with Dr Iteakcs, Director of the Dive Stock Division of the Department of Agriculture, in relation to the storage of frozen meat, and the immediate and future prospects for shipping. As a result of the board’s deliberation it was decided to convey to the Minister for Agriculture their recommendations in the matter, which are as follow, and to reuqest that they receive the Government’s earnest and immediate attention, a s the subject was one of extreme urgency: That the Government should, if possible, try to secure for the carriage of butter, say, about 6 per cent, of the shipping space available; and also to consider the practicability of adopting some method of assisting some of the smaller dairy farmers should they need financial haTp in the event of their being unable' to ship their butter. The opinion was also expressed that it is imperative that additional freezing stores bj built as soon_ as possible in view of the probable shortage of skips, and that the Government should subsidise the building ef these stores, if necessary, after consulting with *he freezing companies, and obtaining from them their views as to' the most suitable locality, and the best method of financing the proposals; also that a portion Tof such extra storage should bo made available for the storage of dairy produce. With regard to the cheese question, the board pointed out that tile New Zealand Government is in honour bound to see that all cheese is properly stored at a low temperature, both for the sake of the British Government and for the reputation of New Zealand cheese, and, in support of tins, submitted the following facts: (1) The outlook for shipping is absofutely uncertain. Without cool storage cheese will not keep. (3) Cool storage for cheese can be erected at a cost amounting to, approximately, 5 per cent, of the value of the product, and the storage fees paid by the Imperial Government would recoup a large proportion of the cost. (4) After the war this storage will probably be required in the ordinary course of trade, but even if not required for storage or for some other purpose—and of no value afterwards, which is highly improbable—the expenditure would only mean an insurance policy of about 5 per cent, on the year’s output of cheese; and (5) In order To expedite the dispatch of vessels so as to make the greatest possible use of them, a largo central store in Wellington is urgently required. The board therefore strongly recommended that storage accommodation should he provided, which, With the storage now available, would amount to a total of 600,000 crates, and that the Wellington Harbour Board, baying offered to commence the erection of a building for 60,000 crates, on condition that the .Government subsidise the expenditure by £3250, this offer should be promptly accepted, so that storage may be available for the incoming season in September. This matter the Board regarded as one of extrerde urgency.