DAIRY ASSOCIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3775, 20 July 1926, Page 20

DAIRY ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING OPENED. WELLINGTON. July 13 The annual meeting of the National Dairy Association of New Zealand be-an to-day, the delegates being welcomed 'by the Mayor. Ninety-five dairy companies were represented, but only eight from the Auckland district sent delegates. There was, however, a good attendance from the Taranaki, Wellington, and Hawke’s Bay districts. The President of the association, Mr M. A. Morton, of Egmont Village, expressed the belief that the dairy industry was not making the progress it should. The export figures showed that they were practically standing still. The leaders of the country continually impressed upon them that they must increase production, and. the speaker suggested the only way that could be done Avas by paying more attention to their stock and their farms. Mr Morton expressed !•* opinion that at the present time the quality of New Zealand butter did not come up to the Danish. The speaker also dwelt on the importance of research Avork, and suggested that a dairy school should be attached to the proposed Agricultural College. In conclusion, Mr Morton reviewed the balance sheet, and urged the importance of establishing permanent premises in various parts of the country in order to facilitate the handling of their produce. Mr F. Maule (Ashhurst) seconded the adoption of the report and balance sheet. Replying to a question, the Chairman stated that the approximate turnoA'er of the association for the year Avas £150,000. In ans Aver to another question, Mr Morton said ho had made inquiries when he was abroad as to the quality of New Zealand cheese, and he had found It was quite satisfactory, except in the one respect that it was too open. Somo of the Tooley street experts had expressed the view that there was to much moisture in it, and it might be possible to make it firmer. In all other respects, howcA*er, he found that New Zealand cheese was satisfactory. Mr Trotter (Stratford) expressed the view that New Zealand was an ideal country for cheese, and he thought they should pay more attention to‘ problems affecting the production of cheese. Mr Johnson said the time had arrived when some of the grading of their butter should be done at Home. It seemed to him that some of the graders in New Zealand did not understand the reouirements of the Home market.

Another speaker suggested that they should consider very seriously the question of sending some of their factory managers Home to study conditions. Replying to a question, the Chairman said the saltless butter which left New Zealand went to blending factories. In one such factory at Home he had seen 2000 boxes of one New Zealand factory’s butter, ■which had been In store for some months. Mr Broadbelt (of the Levin Co-opera-tive Dairy Company) moved —“That it be a recommendation to the Dairy Control Board to charge to the respective companies concerned any coastwise freight at present included in the overseas freight, the contract revenue derived from the companies to be returned to the industry throughout New Zealand on the pro rata basis of the amount paid by each company by way of levy. Several speakers pointed out that the coastwise freight was of benefit to Taranaki only and a burden on the remainder of the farmers. Mr J. B. Murdoch (Taranaki) said that his province did not want to take a penny from anyone. It was a benefit to all, and the best solution was to obtain the ships that carried dairy produce and fill them up at only one port and send them straight back Home again. The remit was carried on a show of hands. It was decided that it be a recommendation to the Dairy Control Board to endeavour to reach a uniform agreement with all the distributors of New Zealand butter in Great Britain in regard to the matter of weights—viz., New Zealand Government grade notes to be the basis of computation, with a minimum of 561 b 6oz, to be accepted as 561 b, London (or other port) weight. It was decided to recommend that the Railway Department draw up a scheme to enable dairy factory employees to travel at holiday excursion rates upon the railways when travelling upon holidays. .It was decided that, having regard to the recent increase of the duty in the United States on our primary products, the Minister of Customs be urged to make an early revision of the New Zealand Customs traffic in respect to goods from countries where high Customs duties are charged on New Zealand’s primary products. WELLING I ON, July 14. Mr W. Grounds (chairman of the Dairy Control Bo.ard) addressed a meeting of the National Dairy Association. He referred to the criticism levelled at the board’s policy, and said a number of misstatements had been made from time to time. The speaker defended the boarv. s policy of absolute control. He did .*ot claim that the system was as yet perfect, but said they could not get the maximum of efficiency without the whole-hearted support of the industry. The profits of its workings to date were £73,000, and the board had also saved the producers £IIO,OOO in freight charges. It also secured improved services, and was still endeavouring to bring about further improvements. Its idea was to maintain a steady flow of produce on to the Home market, but. not to keep it in store tor the sake of gaining big prices. It was going to accept the price ruling on the market. He considered absolute control was in the best interests of both consumer and producer, and would stabilise the market.