THE CHEESE OUTLOOK

Southland Times, Issue 17933, 26 January 1917, Page 3

THE CHEESE OUTLOOK

REVIEWED BY BARGE MEETING. OF SOUTHERN DAIRYMEN. Ulose on eighty chairmen of directors and secretaries of dairy factory companies met in Allen’s Hall yesterday moniins to further consider the cheese question. The meeting had been called over Mr W. A. Saunders’s signature, and at a few minutes after the appointed hour, a delegate moved that Mr T. W. Foster, president of the South Island Dairy Association (the executive of which was in attendance) take the chair. Immediately Mr Campbell, of Woodlands, who was chairman of a similar meeting on December 23, advanced to the table. There were exclamations of protest, and Mr Lumsden mildly inquired why the proposed chairman was not allowed to preside. Mr Campbell warmly informed Mr Uumsden that that might be his opinion, but added that be (the speaker) had an opinion of his own. Other members rose in protest as Mr Campbell requested Mr Saunders, who had taken up the secretary’s position, to read the notice calling the meeting. A delegate wanted to know who authorised Mr Saunders to act as secretary, while another questioned Mr Campbell’s right to proceed. Mr Campbell; Will you sit down till the minutes are read A Voice; We want to know who’s to be chairman? Mr Campbell; Sit down till you hoar the minutes. A Member; Who appointed you chairman, or Mr Saunders secretary? Mr Campbell: I was chairman of the last meeting which was held in connection with this matter, and, as this is a continuation. I am still chairman. A Delegate: Mr Fisher was secretary of that meeting. Mr Campbell: Mr Fisher Iras asked Mr Saunders to act. since he has all the information at ids finger tips. The Delegate: Did Mr Fisher decline to act? Mr Campbell: Nol He did not. Mr Saunders then read the minutes, after which there were further calls for Mr Foster to take over the meeting. A Canterbury member objected to the minutes being put to a meeting which had no power to confirm them. He wanted to get on with the business. Mr Wards (Island) said that the better course would be to adopt the minutes and then, as the majority wanted the nieeting run under the auspices of the South Island Dairy Association, to move that control be handed over to the Association. A Voice: Will Ou- chairman accept such a motion. — (Daughter.) Mr Bolt, on behalf of the Taieri and Peninsula Co., said that no one irad authority to promise, as was stated In the minutes, that his company would fall into line with a reduced progress payment. The minutes were confirmed amidst cries of “lyet's get on with the business.” Mr Campbell said that the next business dealt with the telegrams and cables despatched by the last nieeting and the various replies thereto. Mr Wards: I move that the chairman leave the chair. Mr Campbell said that he would leave the chair when his business was concluded. Until then he intended to keep control and see that the Association, as well as everyone else, was treated fairly. A member enquired whether the Association had been notilied of the meting, or had its executive been ignored altogether. Tim Chairman: The members of the Association were invited to attend. Mr T.umsden said that the Association was the only body that had a right to call such a meeting. The several wires and their replies having teen read. Mr D. McDotigall (Core) moved that the committee's action in sending them be approved. Thev could not so well approve of the replies, which were not altogether satisfactory. However, although they contained' a lot of bluff, they had to be taken as they came. Mr Fowle seconded the motion. A Director criticised the action of the former meeting in going to the expense of sending messages. As n consequence his factory had been billed -for £l, which was not going lo he paid, since he and his colleagues recognised the South Island Association only. 'Hie motion was carried, and the chairman then asked Mr Foster to take the chair, and (he other members of the Association executive to sit round the table.

Mi C'ampliell left the table amid nppiause which broke forth again ivs .Mr Foster took command. Mr Foster said that a rattier unfortunate position seemed to have arisen; lint for that the Assentation took no responsibility. With regard to the December meeting, tim Association had not been consulted, so he simply ignored the tvhole tiling. However, from the press reports, he saw that the Association had been grossly misrepresented, so ttiat it was only right that it should come forward and defend itself. It might appear to some that the Association had not done all that could have been done, hut lie could say for himself that he had done everything that was possible ever since the last annual meeting, and it had been the busiest year of his connection with

the Dairv Association. There h:ui been one trouble after another, an<l the work hah taken up a great deal of Ills time; hut he had tried to do Ills best. — (Hear, hear, i At the present juncture there could only lie one ruling body and either the Association would have to lake charge or the other committee, which had been trying to run the Association for the pn«t three or four months would have to carry on. From the tone of the meeting, it appeared to him that the Association slid held tile confidence of its subjects. —( I leaf, hear.)

Mr Saunders objected to the remark that an voile had been trying to run the Association for three or four months. There had been no effort to run the Association on anyone's part.

Mr Foster continued by saying that the Asc.-ociat hm had dealt with all the matters which had been discussed at the last Invercargill merging long before that meeting took place. That very morning t December 23) they had received iroiii Air .Massey a reply regarding the shipping difficulty, and all the other issues had been attended to as well. The arranging of finance was for the factories themselves to deal with., and each set of directors could very well look after that. The Association had clone its part. .Mr l.umsden endorsed the chairman’s remarks. Mr Foster and the Association had done everything that, was in their power.

Mr Saunders regretted the exhibition of feeling, its he believed that the factories had every faith in the Association only that body should have made known what it was doing. Tim Chairman then proceeded to outline the circumstances surrounding the issue of the Order-in-Council so far as lie knew them. On the evening of January 1 he received a wire summoning him to a conference in Wellington next day. On Tuesday morning he replied that it, was impossible for him to be in Wellington that day, but added that, if necessary, he could reach the capital by Thursday morning, A third wire asked him to go forward in time for Thursday morning. He went and en route he was joined by Mr Parker (Stirling) and the secretary (Mr I,amb) of the Association. On the Thursday morning they were met at the boat by members of the Northern Association, who anxious not to waste time, had already waited upon Mr Triggs, who was the .Minister’s right hand man in this matter, and come to an agreement on the understanding that the South Island men could object to it if they wished. Mr Foster and his colleagues then saw Mr Triggs, who informed them that the Government was going to purchase the cheese at fD/Ad, and was going to arrange for shipping, and would, if such were not available, pay after the ehee.se had been one month in store. Mr Foster asked at once what was to become of existing contracts, as the most of the cheese had been sold. Mr Triggs said that all contracts would be done away with. The export by anyone save the Government would bo prohibited, and all existing contracts annulled. He showed them, too, a working arrangement which had been drawn up the previous day. Tliis they asked to have as soon as possible so that they could distribute copies to their members. Mr Triggs promised it in a few days. Then, when the Association next met in Dunedin, they learned for the first time that the matter was not going to be carried out as they understood. The Minister had told a buyers' deputation that the cheese was going to be taken from the owners, no matter who they might be. Then they saw the Order-in-Council, and found that the Minister had departed from ilia agreement, Mr Foster wrote to the Hon. Mr McDonald at once, pointing out that tlie agreement had been varied, and mentioning that, although some bills of sale had a clause which provided for the automatic collapse of the sale, in the event of the Government commandeering the cheese, they were now faced by the question as to whether "buying" after the Government's style was really commandeering or not. Sine© then Mr Foster had heard that Mr McDonald was in Gisborne, and so possibly the letter had not yet reached him. However, in reply to an enquiry as to whether any steps were being taken to bring factories and buyers together. Mr Triggs had wired follows on Wednesday evening, January lit!: —"Clause 11 conditions of purchase cheese, indicates course to be taken. Government has not so far taken any steps to bring parties together. Understand merchants have placed themselves in communication with factories. Very important that factories should take immediate action to place their position before Government. If representative body clothed with authority to act for producers would come to Wellington early, it would probably facilitate settlement. This course also suggested by local representative merchants in Wellington. Should like to receive earliest information of the course producers will adopt. Am communicating' with North Island representatives In similar terms, and suggest that, if proposal conference ’Wellington acceptable, yon confer with North Island as to suitable date.” The t'bairman concluded by remarking that the position was fairly difficult, and that it was for the meeting to suggest ways and means whereby it could be met. Mr Campbell stated that he had heard —although not on very reliable authority —that to-day (Friday) was the date fixed for the intervention of the Government if factories and buyers could not arrive at an agreement. It was mentioned that the buyers had circulated that story; but it was pointed out that it was obviously incorrect In view of Mr Triggs - telegram re a proposed conference.

The meeting (hen went into committee as the outcome of which the following resolution was handed to the press durafte.rnoon: — •This meeting, representing the dairy factories of the South Island, after hearing tiu- representative of the Banks’ explanation regarding the financial position, adheres to the resolution passed on 23rd December, 1916, recommending all companies to advance not more than Od per lb for butter-fat supplied during January."