Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING GISBORNE, THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 1931. LOST REPUTATION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17438, 9 April 1931, Page 6

Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING GISBORNE, THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 1931. LOST REPUTATION

As the, dairying industry in tliis district is mainly devoted to the production of butter our readers may not In* greatly interested in what lias been happening in the cheese industry, but we take it they are vitally iiitorcsiod in the ropulntion secured by New Zen land products on the, Homo market, arnl interested also in the effect that, the slump .in cheese must have had on the general prosperity of (he Dominion, It will have been noted that the Prime Minister, as the result of facts brought under his notice when in England, realised the great losses that New Zealand has sustained through its cheese getting into disfavor ami has made a strong appeal for improvement in quality, but it would seem that damage has been done, reputation lost, and distrust engendered through a very crass-headed policy for which neither the Government nor the Dairy Produce Board can be held entirely, tree from blame. Nor have tho rceent attempts

to retrieve the position improved innf

tors,. for cablegrams from the High Commissioner to the Produce feonrci clearly indicate that the importers at, Home resent the new nomenclature of "cheddar"- for our choose and consider that its use is just as objectionable as the recent attempt at "start dardisation." It has boon proven beyond doubt," writes Mr. T. C. List, >f New Plymouth, who investigated the position very closely when at Iloiui, with the Imperial press delegation, "that the standardised cheese exported during last and the present season has goncnearer to damning the whole output of the Dominion than it is pleasant to contemplate. Nor is it'by any means certain that the mischief it has caused can be overcome and the industry ever recover the position it once held in the British marker." .The later history, of the cheese nidustry, Mr. last adds, is a trngic record of opportunities missed and r'njlish errors made. Twenty years ago (li-. New Zealand product w,ns a good-oil';. It, is true it was not as good -is tholiest Canadian, but there was then no reason why it should not become so. The attitude of the London merchants was one of sympathy and interest in (lie development of the industry here, and their assistance and advice were given freely. The result was that in a few years New Zealand became a serious rival to Canada for best finality cheese, and on one occasion actually succeeded in obtaining belter prices than the older Dominion. As an-aid to New Zealand's good fortune the Canadian output to Great Britain ceased to expand, and this country obtained a. leading position among suppliers to the United Kingdom on the score of quality as well as quantity. All the time the trade was growing Ihe Do-, minion was warned that quality must be watched and various defects were pointed out. On the whole it may bo said that up to the outbreak of the Great War the requests and warnings from London were, given full heed. Relations with the merchants were cordial, and the quality of cheese exported, with few exceptions, was such as the Dominion could take pride in. The post-war unrest, had its effect upon the dairy industry. Arbitration Court awards and other industrial agreements in regard to factory workers made it necessary for the .work of manufacture to be speeded up, and for a variety of reasons the quality ,of New Zealand cheese detcrioratcu. Friendly warnings went unheeded. Dairy farmers looked for better returns, and a kind of midsummer madness seemed to lay hold of the industry. The way to more prosperity was, its leaders declared, to ignore the British merchant and for New Zealand to do its marketing direct. Everyone knows the dreary sequel—the abuse of the British traders who had done .so much to assist the industry, the setting up of a futile Control Board, the at-, tempt to fix prices and all the other blunders, for which the Dominion is' still paying very dearly. Meanwhile the quality of cheese exported steadily declined. Warnings from London were more emphatic and prices began, to sag. To most people it would have seemed an inopportune moment to .try. a general experiment. Vet the reply of the cheese manufacturers was to send a "standardised" commodity, which emphasised evils in existence and added some of its own. The result, was two-fold. While, New Zealand cheese became definitely a lower grade article, Canada received improved prices for her output. It is not exaggeration to assert, states Mr.'Li'stj—and we have been told the same thing by a Tooley Street merchant—that the standardised cheese exported this season will havo cost the Dominion at least a million pounds in the decreased prices obtained, it. has done more harm than that: it has roused the British merchant to seek other avenues of supply. It has reduced New Zealand cheese from a first-class to a second-class commodity in the eyes of the British public, and it. has reduced its price accordingly. The remedy applied when the gravity of the position became manifest was to increase the fat content and call standardised cheese "cheudar" —a word which denotes in Great Britain a whole-milk cheese of high quality made on approved and definite principles. Bad the industry admitted its experiment a failure, dropped it and got back to the supply of whole milk cheese it would have taken the first, steps to regain the supreme position it once held on the London market, instead of which it. has once again put itself "offside." The harm done is incalculable. The refusal to abandon standardising was construed by the trade ;is a deliberate defiance of the wishes of the consumer. The "control", cam-

paign-of sis' years ago, with its abuse of the British merchant.-ami attempt to ignore his aid in ■ marketing' pro,duce, had done much inwards breaking down the goodwill thai at one time existed towards the Dominion. British advice has now been ignored and it has become recognised in London not only thai the old happy relationship no longer exists but that Mow Zealand produce, that at. one time could r be accepted for quality on its face value,, must now be regarded with caution, if not with actual suspicion. The effect is seen in the price offered for Now Zealand choose. But thai is not all. Great Britain is turning to other parts of Europe for supplies. Already British capital is aiding the development of cheese, manufacture there. The foreigner is sending his ablest students to learn on the spot what England wants and how it can be supplied. The indications are that' in a very few years there will be similar rivalry for the British cheese ■market as exists in regard'to butter between Denmark and New Zealand to-day; There is another danger. Due to the

lack of uniformity and tUo ujetpripi'd'

t-ion iii -the quality of New Zealand cheese, the blender is seizing what is to hi;ii a wotlderful opportunity of increasing h'is'sales and extending his markets. "It is high time," writes Mr. List, "that the, industry awoke to its peril. The supplier must send clean, fresh milk to the factory. There the aim must .be high quality and the production of the goods for which the market asks. The Dominion has not hesitated to criticise the British manufacturer for failing to study the needs of the markets oversea and to urge him to do so. She should apply her own advice at home and send to London the cheese considered desirable I here." It is quality alone that, will enable New Zealand to win back the confidence of the market.

, TO-MORROW'S LOAN BOLL After a full investigation of future requirements by its officials and the 'endorsement of the detailed proposals by the Local Bodies Loans Board, the Bower Board to-morrow seeks the final authority id' the ratepayers to I he raising of a loan to enable extensions to its rapidly-growing service to be continued on business lines. The board, it will be recalled, commenced operations under somewhat difficult circumstances, the conditions under which it came into existence necessitating protracted inquiry ami negotiation in Order that the policy ultimately adopted should adequately meet the requirements of (he district, for many years ahead. That this initial work was carried out in a businesslike manner with ,a minimum of delay and friction has never been disputed, and in the subsequent, extension of its activities the same, cafe and discretion have been exercised. The result of the board's workis seen in the extent to which electrical service has been made available to. consumers over a wide area, and may be measured by the fact, that the revenue from the sale of current increased from. £20,000 in 1928 to £46,00*0 in 19150. Despite the heavy commitments' entailed, the board has 'not only been able'to keep,its pledge not' to strike a rate, but, in addition, has set aside over £l-1,000 for depreciation and sinking funds, spent considerable sums, out of revenue on capita! works, and ended last year with a credit balance of.over £14,000. These jigurcs are oloquent testimony of sound finance and fully justify the utmost eonfidenco being placed in the board and its staff. The board now has reached a stage when it is compelled to provide for further capital outlay, firstly, to meet demands for additional reticulatioK, and, secondly, to so augment the consumption of current; as to be in a position to meet the increasing ; amount guarantecd-to the Government. The. expenditure involved cannot be avoided, and the only sound method of providing the finance is by means of : tho loan for .which sanction, is now sought. During- the past few weeks the proposals have been clearly placed before the ratepayers, and the almost entire absence: of opposition is itself evidence of general approval of the board's policy.'' The one danger which might appear.to .confront the board, however, is- the apathy of those entitled to vote, particularly in view of 'the fact that a three-fifths majority is required, and for this reason ratepayers arc strongly urged to exercise their franchise to-morrow, doing so with the assurance of experience that the administration of this service is in capable hands.

' The East Coast districts have participated in good falls of rain recently. The southern portion of the coastal area benefited at the time when the drought broke in the Gisborne and Wairoa districts, but the northern end of the Coast did not participate to such a great extent. During Hie last few days, however, good rains have been experienced, and,' for- the 24 hours ended at 9 a.m. to-day, (lie tain gauge at Fast Cape registered 2in., making a total of 3in, in two days;

An amusing interjection, which the speaker himself enjoyed, was made at lust evening s meeting in Patutahi in the" Power Board's loan proposals campaign, (foe speaker bad a lot to say. lie. was not opposed to the proposals, although very critical, and be spent a long time 'commenting lengthily and seeking enlightenment. After lie. had held the rldof for some time, another set I lei- rose and created a laugh with: "I don I think'Mr. will want any electricity; he appears to have a good supply of gas."

A section at the corner of Dickens and Dalton streets, Napier, owned by the Hawke's Bay Farmers' Association, has been sold at a; price close to £6OOO. Allowing for land to be taken for street widening purposes this give* a frontage of 50ft. to Dickens street and 100 ft. to Dalton street, and the price of the land on tho Dickens street frontage is £ll2 per-foot, which is regarded as well up to pro-earthquake value. A block of shops is to be erected by the purchasers, a syndicate of Napier business men.

That the people of the world are well served l.y the press is demonstrated by a copy of the Weekly Scotsman which arrived in Gisborne yesterday. An article on the llawke's Bay disaster is headed "New Zealand Still Shaking," "Eist of Scots People Killed, Injured, or Living Within the Danger Zone." The list, of killed ami injured was quite accurate, and then followed a long mention of the names of residents who had but the briefest connection With Scotland hut whose memory was still strong with it.s citizens. Many Gisborne people were included in the list as being safe but "shaken." The paper was dated February 14.

Some of the wrong impressions thai laid gaine.ll ground during the past few days we.re refuted by Mr. F. It, Ball, cliiirmiiu of the Power Board, in the tlnai meeting in Patutahi last night concerning the loan proposals, on which a polEis to be taken to-morrow. Some people, ho said, be'ieved that the loan was being' sought to include the reticulation of Tohlga Hay and adjacent district, but he stated emphatically that this was not a part, of the scheme. Before power was taken there, the ratepayers of the Uawa 'County would he called upon to sanction stick a project, and the ratepayers of that county would have, to bear the loss, if any, on the undertaking. He oou'd not see any possibility of the Cawa County being reticulated inside the next three or years. He did nof think such a spheme would pay at p'reseiitr ■•

The Evening Post states'authoritatively that Mr. C. H. Chapman will not bo a candidate for the Wellington mayoralty. At the stud stock sales at Christchurch Free Spec was sold to Mr. L. P. Barrett for 85gns and Corona to Mr P. Lister for 85gns.

Angora rabbit breeders in conference at Wellington decided to establish an Angora National Federation to register stud Angoras.

The new Federal Labor Party set up to combat the influence of the Lang Government, has given notice to all unions to declare their allegiance by April 30 or to suffer expulsion. A question tabled in the House of Representatives yesterday by Mr. W. L. Martin asked whether the Government would introduce legislation enabling farmers to issue promissory notes. Eighty sailors and 40 marines from ships of the New Zealand Navy are undergoing musketry' training at Trentham. A second detachment will go into camp on the 20th inst.

The crew of the Auckland yacht Rangi, now in Sydney, have received instructions from the owner, Mr. Leonard, to start on the return trip to New Zealand on Saturday, April 18. The export of boneless beef from New Zealand bus declined to a negligible quantity owing to the prohibitive tariff of 3d per lb. imposed by the United States.

Charged with riding a motor-cycle without being, the holder of a license, a young man, Clarrie Gordon, was convicted and discharged by Messrs. 11. Mi Porter and C. Blackburn, J's.P., in the Police Court this morning. The Postmaster-General advises that New,'-Zealand letters will be carried by the Imperial Airways' experimental mail service planes due at, Darwin on April 19 and! May 10. Letter mails from New Zealand for this service close on April 17 and May 8.

The Queensland aviator, Scott, who left Rangoon yesterday, is expected to arrive at Darwin at dawn on Friday if all goes well, and his time will be 9£ days from England. He is flying a Moth with Gipsy 2 engine, and fuel capacity of 95 gallons. Lack of interest in municipal affairs at Auckland is shown by the large number of burgesses who have' failed to register on tho rolls, which closed yesterday. The apathy is ascrilied by the town clerk as due to the Easter holidays and to racing.

Whilst two boys struggled for life at Byron Bay (N.S.W.) many people who were on the beach thought they were only frolicking. It was no frolic, however, and the lads disappeared and were drowned. The father of the boys, who had witnessed the drowning, was overcome with grief.

Asked in the House by Mr. Barnard what steps had been taken to ascertain the' total losses caused by the Hawke's Bay, earthquake, the Prime Minister stated measures were being taken to ascertain the approximate losses sustain■»d hv private people, local bodies and the Government.

"Observer" writes suggesting that a scheme adopted recently in Guernsey for the. obtainment of a town ball he taken up here in regard to the replacement of the Garrison Hail, namely, the issue of debentures. With the insurance money available, he considers it should be possible to provide sufficient to re-erect the building.

Wong Moy, a Chinese gardener, appeared in the Magistrate's Court in Thames charged with having prepared opium and utensils in his possession, and also with smoking opium. He pleaded not guilty. A quantity of utensils and opium was. produced. The bench thought that Moy should havo an interpreter and adjourned the case until April 17.

Miss Dorothy Brunton, the star in the musical comedy, "Dearest Enemy," who recently returned to Australia, after an absence of six years abroad, broadcasting last night, stated that since her return she had heard nothing but that horrid word "depression." "Don't you believe it," she said, "there is nothing wrong with Australia, I have seen so much of other countries and the miserable conditions abroad, that I can honestly say that here in Australia we aro in clover." The Napier community shopping centre received high praise from Mr. Mawson, director of town planning, during an appeal against the Auckland Transport Board's refusal to permit the tram barn site to be utilised for commercial purposes. Mr. Mawson said that at Napier they had a practical illustration of the value of town planning, and the people there were finding tho new shopping centre a tremendous convenience. It was one of the finest examples of town planning he had seen.

A remand until Saturday was granted by Messrs. 11. M. Porter and C. Blackburn, J's.P., in the Police Court this morning in a case in which a youth of 18 was charged with the theft at Manutttke on March 5 of a diamond ring valued at £25, the property of Mrs. Edith Hamilton. In applying for the remand, Detective MeLood stated that the police desired to make inquiries in Auckland for the purpose of recovering the ring. Bait was allowed in the sum of £SOO in the accused's own recognisance and one surety of an equal amount, and the bench agreed to suppress his name in the meantime.

Members of the Public Service Association in Gisborne gathered in force last evening to hear an address by Mr. F. W. Miller, general secretary of the association, on matters affecting the welfare of civil Servants; and particularly on the subject of the salary cut. Mr. IMiller gave an enlightening account of the activities .of the national headquarters of the association, in the direction of securing a revision of the salary reduction scheme, and explained the measures which tin; executive had put forward with a view to assuring the Government of a saving equivalent to that involved in the cut, without hardship on the servants of the State. Mr. Miller was accorded a hearty vote of thanks lor his address, on the motion of Mr. .). Jackson, who presided over the gathering.

Since his oniergeneo from the retirement necessitated by a leg injury some time ago,, the Gisborne featherweight amateur boxer. .1. Franklin, has had two matches, one in Gisborne against a, Wellington' lad named McDonald, and the second in Hastings, on Monday night, against an experienced hoy named Donkin. In each case Franklin has tired towards the end of the'bout, and thereby lost his chance of a convincing win. In Hastings be had his opponent down twice in the first minute, but Donkin weathered' the storm, and after a period of smothering and evasion, pulled himself together and gave the Gisborne amateur a first-class fight. In the last round, Franklin was tiring badly, and Donkin effected a good rally which entitled him to a draw, the decision being warmly applauded. The Hastings audience also saw in action another Gisborne amateur, one "Pug" Markie, who has not been in the public ring for some time, but who secured the decision over a llawke's Bay boy named Little.. It was a fight such as .the' "fans" love, with hard hitting and little attempt at evasion, Markie's.' better control winning hlroths verdict,