CORRESPONDENCE

Southland Times, Issue 19230, 21 May 1921, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE

BUTTER INDUSTRY OF SOUTHLAND. To the Editor. Sir, —Mr A. H. Mackrell has written an extremly interesting letter on the above subject in your issue of 20th inst., he has however based his remarks on one or hvo wrong assumptions. Mr Mackrell seeks to convey the impression that personal interests have actuated me in moving for official Government testing in proprietary butter factories, owing to the competition of the latter with the cooperative cheese factories of which I am secretary. Had Mr Mackrell been present on the occasion of the interview with the Parliamentary Party he would not have fallen into this mistake. I was emphatic in bearing testimony to the great benefit the butter factories had been to Southland and how they had enabled very many farmers to participate in the prosperity of dairying who could not possibly have delivered milk daily to the co-operative cheese factories. I also acknowledge that Mr Mackrell of the Waitaid Company has played a great part in making this industry forge ahead. While I was equally emphatic in urging the desirability and the need of Government officers carrying out the tests. I also stressed the advisability of avoiding any undue interference with private enterprise and endeavoured to exonerate the companies rrom any suggestion of dishonesty. I am very strongly of opinion that in the interests of all suppliers and the industry as a whole the testing should be done by Government officers.

The growing support given the butter factories has not in the slightest degree affected the co-operative cheese factories of which I am secretary. With one exception these factories have advanced along with the expansion of Mr Mackrell’s factory and it was not owing to the competition he mentions that this particular factory’s supply fell away. This is too important a subject for either Mr Mackrell, myself or any other writer who may cafifr to express an opinion to indulge in personalities. Let us each as loyal Southlanders give credit for honesty of purpose in any suggestion made for what we believe to be the greatest good for the greatest number. The dairy industry has played an important part in tempering the stringency of the depression, so acute in other lands, and making itself felt in the dominion. It is going to play a much larger part in the future and with the co-operation of hydroelectricity is going to make Southland the greatest dairying province in the dominion. However excellent the existing conditions are for carrying on the industry, will it not be to the advantage of the whole community if more perfect working conditions, more equitable and scientific treatment can be introduced? W’e are a long way from perfection and that should be our ideal and ultimate goal. The fact that not one of the 700 suppliers to the Waitaki Company has suggested or asked for an alteration of the present methods, while a great tribute to the accuracy of their returns and the administrative ability in Mr Mackrell’s management is not evidence that the suggestion I have nut forward is wrong or undesirable. I have always experienced the greatest courtesy and helpfulness from Mr Mackrell and appreciate his offer to throw his testing department open to a visit from Mr Hamilton or myself. This however would not assist in settling a difficulty. A hundred visitors might pass through and after seeing the process of testing come away very litt’e wiser as to whether the work was satisfactory or not. Mr Mackrell and myself have evidently the same desire in view, namely the advancement of the industry. If the bringing under Government supervision of the testing, which is the basis of trie contract between the supplier and ttie merchant, and the carrying out of that work by disinterested Government officers is going to make for the good of the industry what reasonable grounds has Mr Mackrell for opposing it? Canada with much more experience than New Zealand has found it incumbent on it to adopt such a course. 'Hie very excellent dairy regulations governing the industry in the dominion to-day were strenuously opposed when the late Hon. Dr McNab introduced them and were instrumental in making a break in his parliamentary career. No one with any sane conception of their worth would advocate the repeal of these regulations. Why not add to them legislative authority to supervise the testing of cream as I have suggested? No one would be injured while absolute confidence of equality in treatment would be established. I have received confirmation from quite a number of gentlemen, with much more intimate experience than myself that the suggestion put forward to the Parliamentary Party is on right lines and i« durable of fulfilment,

I too hope Mr Hamilton will publish the reply he receives from the Minister of Agriculture and trust if it is not entirely satisfactory that he will not stop his investigations but will obtain all the information possible from the responsible officers of the Dairy Division and press for some official certificate of test. How about Mr Mackrell joining in the crusade with Mr Hamilton and myself to bring this about?— I am, etc., JOHN FISHER. Otautau.