DAIRY BOARD’S WORK

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19136, 3 October 1936, Page 6

DAIRY BOARD’S WORK

PLENTY STILL TO DO CHANG ED LEGISLATION CHAIRMAN'S REVIEW Although the recent legislation has restricted the- scope of the work of the Dairy hoard, it. still has much to do, in the opinion of the chairman, Mv. A. .1. Murdoch, who addressed the ward dairy conference in Gisborne to-day. While, if would appear that, the board had no actual work with marketing, said Mr. Murdoch, the board had been m close association with the Marketing Department. For two months the board had been trying to finalise the matter of butter boxesi and cheese crates, and had now an assurance from the timbei merchants that they would be able to supply a suitable article, but the price was not. vet- disclosed. The supply oi boxes to each factory at approximately the same price would be attempted. The Minister bad promised an embargo on the export of containers made outside the Dominion in future, but Mr. Murdoch did not think the Minister would be able to do this in view of the possibility of prices for the New Zealandmade box becoming too high without outside competition. During the past few months, a certain’ amount of zoning had been done, but only on a voluntary basis, particularly in the South Island," where there were a number of small factories, while in the North Island smaller matters, had been arranged, although more on the lines- of cream collection on certain routes. Now that all factories would receive the same price for their butter on a quality basis, the pay-outs would be the same, except, in the matter of internal arrangements. Under the empowering regulations, the commission appointed was given power to put zoning into practice, but voluntary arrangements were sought in the first place. It would be only in extreme cases that, compulsion would be resorted to. LOCAL MARKETING Local marketing) was now controlled by the Marketing Department, but as vet there was no control. The board nad urged the Marketing Department to come to some finality, and the department. had formulated a plan and submitted it to the Minister, who, however, was so busy that he was unable to consider it yet. Mr. Murdoch said that ho would be in Wellington on Monday and would again go into the matter. The question of rising costs was being considered by the board, and be asked dairy factory directors to supply the board with all details of this aspect so that all the information could be tabulated and submitted to the right quarter. Costs were going up steadily now, and would go u]) more. The board still had a definite duty to perform, and that duty would he felt more and more during the next few month's. The industry must have a mouthpiece, and only one mouthpiece. All sections should put their representations through one channel, and with that one channel the industry’s voice would he heard more loudly and with better effect than several smaller ones. The Dairy Board was the only organisation which represented both islands, and he urged that the producers should keep it together. Mr. Murdoch sat down amid loud applause.