THE DAIRYING INDUSTRY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22065, 22 September 1933, Page 6

THE DAIRYING INDUSTRY

CONTROL BOARD CONFERENCE MARKETING OF BUTTER AND CHEESE. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, September 21. The first Dominion conference convened by the Dairy Produce Board was concluded this afternoon. Proposals for a more equitable system of marketing butter sold locally were discussed, and were accepted as a genuine attempt by the industry to overcome the chaotic conditions under which price-cutting were general. The proposals, which embody the setting up of a New Zealand Local Stabilisation Committee, without interference with the existing system of factories patting, for local supplies, were endorsed. London parity will be the basis of the prices, but with reasonable cost for patting and distribution.

A somewhat similar report on the marketing of cheese in New Zealand was also discussed, but the delegates pointed out that there were very many more difficulties in the handling and local marketing of cheese than was the case with butter. The need for maturing cheese and the consequent cost of accommodating local market cheese on the shelves for a considerable period were pointed out as difficulties, but eventually the proposals were carried, subject to a slight modification.

Unanimous support was given to the action of the Department of Agriculture in introducing milk grading. The speaker's were emphatic in stressing the need for still further improvement in quality, and considered that milk grading was a very big step forward in the industry.

Approval was also given to the regulations brought down by the Department of Agriculture concerning the waxing of cheese. It was considered inadvisable to take any action towards actually eliminating the waxing of cheese altogether until such time as the results from the experimental factory in Waikato, which was being conducted by the Dairy Division this season, are made known.

Entire satisfaction with the Dairy Board as the effective head of the industry was expressed by the conference. The method of the election of Dairy Board members was considered by the conference. The view wag_ held that the method was not democratic, as had been proved by the recent election. A committee consisting of one delegate from each ward was set up to investigate the systems of election of primary producers’ boards overseas, the committee to make a recommendation to next conference of the system best, suited to the Now Zealand dairy industry. The conference emphatically supported the suggestion that farm dairy instruction should be instituted on a Dominion-wide basis on the block system. The suggestion that in cream grading there should bo only two grades instead of three as at present was negatived. The conference decided that the board should urge upon the Government the necessity for finding money for research work. Members pointed out that the Government was not honouring its obligation of providing £3500 a year*