DAIRYING INDUSTRY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11304, 1 September 1922, Page 5

DAIRYING INDUSTRY

COOD TIMES FORETOLD “EXPORT ONLY BEST QUALITY,” SAYS PRIME MINISTER. TAXATION AND UNEMPLOYMENT. After the Prime Minister had opened the new freezing works, built by the 00-operative Dairy Producers’ Freezing Company, Ltd., yesterday, the company adjourned to luncheon at the Dominion Farmere’ Institute. Mr J. G. Ewington, chairman of directors, presided, and amongst the guests were the Prime Minister (the Right Hon. W. E. Massey), Messrs E. Newman, M.P., W. H. Field, M.P., V. Potter, M.P., A. D. McLeod, M.P., F. F. Hockly, M.P., McNicol, M.P., Dixon, M.P., T. W. Rhodes, M.P., T. O. Brash, J. G. Harkness (secretary), and others. Mr Moss proposed “The Prime Minister,” for whom, he said, they all Mt admiration. The producers had been going through a strenuous time, and if they had not had a man at the head of affairs capable of looking after their interests things would have been very serious. In their Premier , they had a man who had risen from one of themselves, a gentleman who had as: Burned responsibility and piloted the country through strenuous times, coming out remarkably well. Whatever political opinions they held in New Zealand during the war, at the conferences at Home with the statesmen of the world he had upheld thq honour of New Zealand ae few other men could have done. (Hear, hear.) In the difficult times ahead they had in Mr Massey a pilot who was determined to steer the ship into safe waters, not only in the interests of _ the farmers but of the whole community, and they as producers were safe in his hands. (Hear, hear.) PRIME MINISTER’S REPLY. GOOD TIMES COMING. In responding, Mr Massey said that, in the different posts he had held, he had done his best, and if he had failed it had not been for want of trying. He would.like to express appreciation of the substantial building and up-to-date machinery in the new works. He believed there were wonderful developments ahead, and that in a very few years they would require additions to the new building. He congratulated those concerned in the dairying industry upon the outlook, in which there was confidence throughout the country. He believed he was right in saying that those who responded mostly to the call for increased production were connected with the dairying industry. He knew something of dairying and farming, and no section worked so hard for the money they reoeivedi; seven days ft week, and 13 or 14 hours a day, wet or fine, the butter was' turned out. His sympathy went out to them every time. With regard to the outlook, he could not say exactly what prices were going to be, but they were through the summer supplies at Home and in Europe, and he thought they would get wry good prices Indeed. Here, at the end of August, they had sent out their supplies, _ ahR he hoped they would have a repetition of last season. The butter had left the freezing works, and another good season would be the best thing that could happen for the country. He recollected saying some years ago that New Zealand would he the dairy farm of the Empire, just as Canada was the wheatfield of the Empire,_ but he had not thought it would realise so soon. MARVELLOUS DEVELOPMENTS. Developments during the last year or two had been simply marvellous, for the growth of the dairying industry was shown by the following figures: —Produce graded and shipped from Wellington—l9l7-18, butter .150,084 boxes, cheese 194,020 crates; 1921-22, butter 314,884 boxes, cheese 205,522 orates. Dominion figures—l9l7-18, butter 724,695 boxes, cheese 756,142 crates; 1921-22, butter 2,021,912 boxes,, cheese 893,057 orates. By these figures they would eee.that production had increased nearly three times in those four years. Yet there was plenty of room for . more expansion, plenty of land fit for dairying purposes which was not used for dairying now, and he did not think they would get as much out of any other branch of farming as from dairying. He spoke from the country’s point of view, because they lived ■ by their exports, and the more they exported the better it would he for the whole community. Every box of butter that passed over that wall benefited tie people. The country bad gone back with sheep, but he believed the development of the dairying industry had something to do with it. The number of sheep had gone down by 3,000,000, which was a serious matter. Sheepfarmem had to raise money, and many sheep were sacrificed on aocount of that fact. LESS TAXATION WANTED; But with sheepfarming the outlook was good, for they had had a eplendid lambmg season. The country had turned the corner,, he believed, and the outlook was so good that they might expect a great improvement during the present season. He hoped the improvement would reach the national exchequer, although it had not done «o yet. Revenue was still going down, but with every ship that arrived he expected a change to take place, and that revenue would go up. They wanted to reduce taxation, and nothing would please him but they were face to faeo with a big drop in the income tax, in which department a fall of £2,000,000 was expected. What a fine thing it would he if bs could tell them that lie would reduce taxation by £2,000,000. Ho would, however, not be able to reduce it as be had hoped, although he believed things would be much better by the end of the financial year. He understood that tbe stores would be available for the cold storage of fish, which was. quite a good thing, which reminded him of another matter that did not receive enough attention, reciprocal trade arrangements. The speaker instanced several items on which the duty in Australia had been reduoed or removed, particularly agricultural implements. He believed New Zealand manufactured the finest agricultural implements in the world, and Australia evidently thought so, for she was going to admit them free. If they noticed the items he had mentioned he thought they could be developed and so increase trade.. SYMPATHY FOR UNEMPLOYED. He heard that work was very slack, and that there were hundreds who wanted help. He was very sorry to hear it. f&jme of them had waited upon him, and appeared to be.a good lot of fellows, anxious to obtain work, and were quite reasonable. Tbey were inmnlsristt over 7000 men on public 1

works now, men. using the pick and shovel, and, without the material, the expense was enormous, and could not be kept up for long. Still, he believed they would get through the slump, and be none the worse for it. EXPORT THE BEST ONLY. While in London he had the opportunity of seeing tbe condition in which New Zealand produce was received, and he wanted to impress on them the necessity of turning out the very best article they could. New Zealand had a splendid reputation for butter, but lost ground during tbe war on cheese, and he did not know that they had regained the groundsel). He hoped the cheese-makers of the Dominion would take care during the present season to make a better article .than they had ever made before. Reputation was half, tbe battle. If tbe people an the other side of the world could get what they want they were willing to pay for it, but unless tbe produoens gave them what they wanted, they would not Want their produce. That was the trouble with New Zealand beef; it did not .compare with Argentine, and nothing but ox beef was worth sending at present. He strongly advised those who were shipping beef ,to send only tbe very best. In conclusion, he thanked the company for the way they had received the toast. Messrs E. Newman, W. H. Field, A. D. McLeod, F. F. Hoddy, D. Jones, J. Nash, McNicol, and V. Potter, M.P.'a, also supported the Prime Minister’s remarks, the proceedings concluding with the toast of “The Oh airman."