ALL-ROUND REDUCTION

Taranaki Daily News, 4 December 1930, Page 8

ALL-ROUND REDUCTION

DAIRY BOARD’S ECONOMY MEMBERS AND STAFF TAKE LESS. EXPORT LEVY TO BE MAINTAINED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. . Wellington, Last Night. A decision, to reduce the honoraria of members by 20 per cent. and. the salaries of staffs in both New Zealand and London by 121 per cent', .was reached by the New Zealand Dairy Board at . its meeting to-day. Hitherto the honorarium of members has been £250 per annum, each and that of the chairman £750 per annurd. The sum of £7OO will there-, fore lie saved by the reduction, which is to be effective from February 1 next. In - the case of the salaries the sum of £7830 is involved, that being the figure covering the head office and London expenses' 5 for the board’s last financial year. The 12J per cent, reduction will therefore mean a saving of approximately £950. , . . In agreeing to tlie reduction the boaid. took the view that it was incumbent on it as tlie head' of the dairy industry to give a lead towards’economy in view of the present market position ■ of primary produce. The chairman said that he was sorry from the point of view of the staff that it was necessary to take this attitude, but, in the face of circumstances it was essential fpr everybody to economise.. The position of the whole of the board 1 ? staff had been gone into carefully, and be could' uot see . % where any reduction of numbers could be made. The industry could rely upon the board facing the situation with due regard to economy., Af Several letters' were received from dairy companies stressing the need for economy at the present , juncture and making the suggestion''.that the levy imposed, upon export produce should be reduced or suspended. On this point Mr. Jorns said he 'Would stress the fact that the board had'entered into commit- ; „ ments, which' could' not be varied. As ... a matter of fact the sum derived fiom, the present levy, was insufficient to meet current commitments, and the . board was drawing upon reserves, which had been accumulated during the period bcr fore the levy was . reduced by half to its present position. . Advertising m Britain was being continued at .the rate of £15,000 -per annum, this, being very ' necessary expenditureto maintain, the sale of New. Zealand dairy produce.’; In addition a sum of approximately £4OOO was being devoted to. necessary scientific research into various dairying problems. ' ~ It was also pointed out that ’the contribution of the average supplier of. .5000 lbs of ,’butt6’=fat to the board was only 15s 7d per annum .Opportunity was Xlso taken iu connection with the discussion of economy to correct a report ; emanating from Taranaki to the effect that the expense-of the recent visit of the chairman to London had amounted to over £l4OO. Mr. lorns pointed, out that the full cost to the industry did not exceed £7OO, including fares. He had .. .’ kept exnenses to a minimum and. done mucn entertainment at his own expense..) ; As a matter of fact his personal expenses exceeded tlie sum charged the board by £250; His railway travelling expenses in Britain were under £25, although Ip had visited .the northern industrial areas and Scotland two, or three times. 1 , ■ - -