UNITY IN DAIRY INDUSTRY

Taranaki Daily News, 19 July 1932, Page 5

UNITY IN DAIRY INDUSTRY

FEDERATION IN TARANAKI MISUNDERSTANDINGS REMOVED. ORGANISATION AMONG COMPANIES The decision to link with the Taranaki : Federation of Dairy Companies, which has its headquarters at Hawera, was reached at a meeting of between 50 and 60 representatives of 19 North Taranaki dairy factories at New Plymouth yesterday. Mr. P. A. Openshaw presided. The question of some representation of the North Taranaki factories in executive capacities on the federation is to 'be discussed at the annual meeting of the federation. The annual meeting of the federation is to be delayed for six weeks so that representatives of the North Taranaki companies may discuss the question of joining, as individual companies, at their annual meetings. , The chairman of the federation, Mr. T. A. Winks, and members of the executive, Messrs J. R. Corrigan, F.-Par-•ons, F. Parsons and C. White, and the secretary, Mr. A. K. . yson, attended the .meeting. The discussion, cleared several points which had formerly been obscure, according to the northern delegates, the southern delegation pointing out that the federation was not a South Taranaki federation but had always been a Taranaki federation. In welcoming the delegates the chairman ■ said the meeting arose from action taken by the Lepperton Dairy Company. The interest of the Lepperton Company dated from last season, when it called a meeting of representatives of neighbouring companies to discuss problems and difficulties facing the industry. Bell Block, Tarurutangi, Moa, Waitara Road and Mangorei Dairy Companies had been circularised and all but Bell Block attended a meeting held on August 21; 1931. The meeting decided that all North Taranaki companies should be circularised to attend a meeting with a view to forming an association and discussing other -matters concerning the dairy industry. The Bell Block Company had written, to the meeting saying that it would support any movement for the benefit of the industry.

: Later a letter had been received from the Taranaki Federation suggesting a meeting with its executive officers at Hawera, whose experience would be of some benefit in coming to a decision. The letter with the heading “Taranaki Federation”, had eome as a 'surprise, said Mr. Openshaw, as they had always heard the federation spoken of as, the South Taranaki Federation. The upshot was that he and Mr. Blyde had gone to Hawera and had' a pleasing interview with members of the executive, whom he was glad to welcome at the meeting that day. "TOTALLY DISORGANISED” .in North Taranaki are totally disorganised from the dairy industry point of view,” said Mr. H. E. Blyde. "In other parts of the country—North Auckland, South Auckland, • airarapa and even in small bush country districts farmers are ali organised. You will all agree that there is a definite need for co-operation among farmers. We ehould be so organised that we can speak with one voice on problems such as the ’Ottawa Conference, the quota proposals and the operation of the Transport Act.” As individual factories they would get nowhere, but if they could speak with one voice they had more hope of getting/ something done. There were other matters that were interesting farmers—the matter of overlapping which caused economic waste, and of group marketing. He had to plead ignorance until recently that the federation of factories was a Taranaki Federation. - It was only" after his interview with the executive that he realised the wide work being done by the federation. He was not concerned over having one federation or two federations so long as they: could all work together. He moved that they link with the federation and have two committees, one in the south and one in the north, from which the central executive should bo elected. Before the motion was discussed Mr. Rundle, Bell Block, explained that when his company had notified its willingness to assist the Lepperton Company in any movement for the benefit of the indus-

try it had not intended to “side-step” from the Federation, ?of which it was a member. : Mr. Winks said he thought he could honestly claim that in the ’ past the federation had been operating to the benefit of the industry.' If any question affecting the industry arose the federation called a meeting of the whole of the industry, in Taranaki by means of advertisements in the northern and southern newspapers. It had thought it was representative of the whole of the industry, and when it had been told it was not it wanted to know where it. had fallen down. That was the reason the members of the executive were present that day. He considered there ww no need for duplicating the existing organisation and that Mr. Blyde’a suggestion might suit very well. The present federation had always , been in close touch with the Government and the Dairy Division over any dairy question that had arisen. The division always approached the federation before bringing in any innovation. The federation had been a power in the land because it was considered to, represent the whole of Taranaki. MOST CENTRAL HEADQUARTERS. , The headquarters of the federation had been at Hawera because it was the most central place in -e f deration’s territory, which extended as far south as Westmere, but if necessary some meetings could be held a'. New Ply--1 mouth.

To Mr. G. Gibson, Rahotu, the chairman eaid that of the 37 dairy companies circularised to attend the meeting, 19 were represented a the meeting. Mr. Gibson said the meeting could not be called representative of North Taranaki.

‘ls the organisation called the Taranaki Federation or the ■South Taranaki Federation?” ariced x.*r. Gibson. Mr. Corrigan: “It has always been the Federation of Taranaki Dairy Companies.”

W hen the question of standardised eheese arose, said Mr. Gil on, the federation had held a .nc ting in South Taranaki and come to a decision, but his company, though not a member T the federation, had not received an invitation to attend. When his company had protested t the decision the Dairy Division had replied that the decision had been reached at a meeting of the Taranaki Federation. If it was the Taranaki Federation the fact was not widely enough known. ' Mr. Corrigan: “You have all been asked to join the federation.” Mr. Winks explained that notices of meetings were sent J o all members of the federation and other companies were given invitations to .attend through the newspapers. Mr. Corrigan said he had been the

founder of the federation in Taranaki. About' 1923 he called a meeting of all factories 'of Taranaki at -Hawera to

form, a; federation. Every factory in Taranaki was circularised to attend and sufficient were present to form a federation. That federation was still open to all; Taranaki factories. Later they thought it was necessary to bring in science and had started the laboratory, but it w'as not necessary for members of the federation to contribute towards th® laboratory. If they wanted the benefits of the laboratory they could have them by paying a levy of Id per 1001 b fat; It was due to the apathy in the north that many more factories besides Bell Block and Waitoitoi had not joined the federation. Mr. Gibson said that Mr. Blyde had spoken about the South Auckland federation and its organisation but he knew that there was considerable disorganisation within that organisation. Unless they could represent all the factories in Taranaki they could mA speak for the industry in Taranaki. Otherwise thev must make it plain that the opin-, ions of the federation were those of only a limited number of companies. Mr. W. Burns, Tariki, said his company had. belonged to the federation but he felt the weakness had been the lack of representation of the north on the executive. . . Mr. Bundle, Bell Block, said that in fairness :to the federatio. he. must say that many times members in the south had begged him to take a seat on the executive. He had been satisfied that the executive at Hawera was doing good 'work. VALUE OF LABORATORY.

Mr.. Marchant, Cardiff, said the federation always had been a federation of Taranaki companies and he had once ■been a member of the executive, although, he came from 'Stratford. He

spoke of . the need for the laboratory in the south, where' problems of cheesemaking were more urgent than in the north. He was entirely in sympathy with the aim of getting together so that the industry could speak with one voice on the problems facing it. He suggested that' meetings might be held in turn at Hawera, Stratford, New Plymouth and Opunake. Mr. Honeyfield, Patua, said he believed North Taranaki was too small to • form its own federation and should link with the Taranaki Federation. . . As a member of the original federation, Mr. Parsons, Whenuakura, said the title of Taranaki Federation had been given at the foundation. He was in favour of alternate meetings at ■Stratford and Hawera. Mr. Corrigan pointed out the wisdom of harmony between north and south. When the federation was formed there was; a feud between north and s'outh, especially over butter questions, and that-was why he had the association called the Taranaki Federation. In reply to a question the chairman said there were altogether 19 companies in the Taranaki Federation. Mr. Blyde said they had as many North Taranaki companies represented at the meeting as there were companies in the Taranaki Federation, so they could claim to be representative of the north. He was not at all eager to have a separate federation in the north but it was fairly clear that the north had not been in touch with the federation as closely as it might have been. For that reason he had suggested north and south committees, to make cer-1 tain that both had a voice in the decisions of the federation. If nothing else came of the meeting that day it had done good by showing that the federation existed for the interests of the whole of the province rather than any one section. He would rather see the.'North Taranaki companies simply agree to link

with the Taranaki Federation without any conditions, said Mr. Rundle.. Emphasis on the other issues might;cause the old split between, north and: south to .break out again. For instance,,there might be difficulties when the new executive was being appointed, as jt would mean the resignation of .some members. He moved an amendment that the,meeting favour linking with' the Taranaki Federation. -V-.?-'-'

If they could decide that: first, said Mr. Corrigan, the details of representation for the north could be considered later. ' If Mr. Winks could assure him that •the north would get fair representation he would not press his motion, said Mr. Blyde. - ■ ■:■■-■ ’•■.'«. “I can assure Mr. Blyde that, we shall work in with any reasonable suggestion from the north,” said Mr. Winks. “The present executive is prepared to place (itself in the hands of-any representative meeting of the whole-'of the industry in Taranaki. Its only , aim is to be of service to the industry. The annual meeting, to be held at Hawera, is to be held soon, and the whole question can be discussed..

Mr. Blyde said he wanted' to: feel assured that north members • would be able to attend.

Mr. Winks said he . gave them an invitation to attend whether they were members or not. The annual meeting would be delayed six weeks so that companies might decide on their policy at their annual meetings. The federation would send circulars to every company in Taranaki notifying, them of the meeting. Mr. J. Brown, Maketawa, said'he had not yet learned what the companies would get out of joining the federation. It would no doubt take Mr. Winks almost all day to’ detail the activities of the federation, said Mr. Blyde. It was obvious, however, that whatever was to be done could only be done by organisation. *• - ■■' •