DAIRYING INDUSTRY

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 84, 25 June 1930, Page 6

DAIRYING INDUSTRY

PROBLEMS TO BE FACED

N.D.A. ANNUAL CONFERENCE

ADDRESS BY MR. A. MORTON

HAMILTON, Jiu.c 24

The annual meeting of (lie National Daily Association, ilu most important conference in the dairying industry, at which 500 delegates from nil over New Zealand are attending, <>!>., .1 in Hamilton to-day. The conference was presided over by the president, Mr A. .Morton.

A civic reception was a;eorded delegates, in which the Mayor, Mr J. It. Pow, stated that Hamilton esteemed it ai honour that il had at last been sciectod for such » gathering, He mentioned that. Hamilton had been built ftp almost solely by the farming industry and the town was the centre of one of the largest, dairying areas in the world. Tup-dressing and intensive farming had had a wonderful effect, not only on the output of the whole district,' but on the progress and prosperity of the town, and !.e extended to all a most cordial wel ome. In returning thanks, Mr Morton remarked that there wa s a great dial to be seen and sortie thing to be learnt in the matter of the pastoral development of the Wnikato, which, of all districts, he thought, had shown the greatest progress in the application o'g fertilisers and extensive farming.

Reviewing the season, Mr A. Morion referred to the phenomenal growth of top-dressing. The increase in dairy production in the past doc-ado had been remarkable. In the 1919-20 season the production for the Dominion consisted of 187,000,000 lbs of butterfat, In 1928-29 the output was 282,000,000 lbs of butter-fat, more than doable in ten years. Since then there had been an increase of between II and 12 per cent, on the production of the previous year, and the total production would reach 300.000,000 lbs. About 20 years ago, added Mr Morton, he had told the conference at Palmcrston North that in ten years production would be doubled; in that time it had been puadrupled. If this had been done without full use being made of herd testing and. manures, what had the future to hold? I feel sure we can again double production within a period of years which I may not live to see,'' he added.

Increased Use of Manures. ~' To show the great growth of the use of manures in the different parts of New Zeal .nd, Mr Morton quoted various figures. It was also interesting to note that great advances had been made regarding the importation of manures. During the past few years the following were the importations:— 1919, 7(>,950 tons; J 927, 249,000 tons; 192.8, 310,000 tons; last year, 302,000 tons.

Referring to herd testing, Mr Morton said it was significant that since its introduction, the average production per cow had risen from 100 ]bs of but-ter-fat to 215 lbs. a highly creditable result when the number of cows undergoing test was considered

Speaking of tho matter of increased production as a compensatory fae'.ur against lower prices, Mr Morton said that, sbme held that to produce move for a market that already was glutted would be folly He thought it good advice to ask dairy producers to increase the'r individual production per cow per acre If they could d . that they would lessen the cost of production. That was the thing all had to scribe for. (Applause), Increasing (lie individual production per cow per aero would to some extent, compensate them for the lower prices they must expeet in tho future.

Lower Cheese Quality. Dealing with the quality of the Dominion's butter, tiie speaker said that this had been well maintained, and he thought its reputation on the Home market was better now than iivc years ago, when he was at Home. This was probably due to the use of fewer neutralising materials resulting in a fuller flavour. Unfortunately the position with regard to the quality of New Zealand cheese was not so favourable. During the past year only 24 per cent, of' New Zealand's cheese had been graded finest, while 74 per cent, haa been first grade, and 2 per cent, under first. Separating the figures of the North and South Islands, he founa that in tho North Island last year there was ICJ per cent, finest, while in tho South Island there was 55 pei cent, finest. In the North Island there was 81J per cent, graded first, i'ud in the South Island 44 per cent. itrst. In the North Island there was 21 per cent, uuder first and in the South Island 1 per cent. The prohibitive tariff p'accd on dairy riiachi. cry was commented on by the president. He regretted to say that at the present time the tariff on dairy machinery was being looked upon by the 1 Governmeit more in the light of revenue producing than as assistance to local industry. On some machinery imported as much as £IOO impost was placed. It seemed absolutely unfair that the industry should be penalised by having to pay this excessively heavy duty. Heavy tariffs on imported stock foods was a matter for comment by Mr Morton, who said that omc stockfoods were unobtainable owing to the prohibitive tariff. With the dairy industry in the position it was to-day with a great lowering of prices and prospects of a rise not very bright for some years to come, dairymen were forecd to turn their attention to by products. Here again, however, they were confronted with an impossible position with regard to stock foods, which prevented them from making pigs a payable side line. The position was iniquitous. Lower Range of Prices 6 "While tho production figures cause us every satisfaction khen we come to marketing, there is a different tale to tell." said Mr Morton. "Results this season havo been ve'W disappointing," he added. "There has been a very eonsiderable world-wide depression affecting all lines of trade, and we

have been drawn irresistibly into the depression and are .nfferin/now from L ,; eth " J* was only natural to SU pPO* that New Zealand dairy farmers would have to accept a lower range of pnees for their produce, though it v.-as never thought that they would reach the level they had got to within the last two months. During the last week or two there »ia 1 h t en a gradual rise which wa s more hopeful, but they had definitely to took forward to a lower range of pn-.M for both cheese m.o butter, particular- butter, than rlose they enjoyed durfc jj-.tho' oast few ./vars. They must »M-C]'t the face that trie market had dropped. 2d and 3d per ]'• and would have to nas.o calculations in the future, on a price amounting to 2* 3d or Is 4d. Dairy Workers' Award. "Every time the Arbitration Court sits to frame a dairy workers' award it grants additional concessions to workers without considering whether or not the industry is able to stand it," said Mr Morton, There was, he added, never a corresponding concession to the employers. This kind of thing, he said, had been going on for a considerable time, and had every appearance of continui .g. The question arose as to whether the primary industries phould not be eliminated from the operation of the Arbitration Act altogether. The following directors were reelected :—Auckland, Mr E. 8. Trclnaine; Taranaki, Mr A. Morton; Wellington, Mr J. G. Brechin.