OPPOSITION TO QUOTA

Taranaki Daily News, 17 August 1933, Page 7

OPPOSITION TO QUOTA

DAIRY PRODUCE BOARD’S ACTION. SUPPORT AT BELL BLOCK. If the Dairy Produce Control Board had never justified its action before it had certainly done so by the splendid stand it had taken in opposing the introduction of the quota, said Mr. L. J. Rundle at the annual meeting of the Bell Block Dairy Company last night. As the head of the industry the board was able to speak in an authoritative way on a subject that had been considerably exercising the minds of the industry. It was difficult, continued Mr. Rundle, to state whether the quota would be enforced.- The Ottawa Agreement would be a protection for the next two years, but it was hard to say what would happen after that. From the newspapers it appeared as though there would be a further restriction on meat, and he expected that would also affect the export of dairy produce. At present the ships that visited New Zealand lifted half meat and half dairy produce, and as there would be no meat to lift the boats would take a longer time going around the coast to pick up enough dairy produce for a load. However, it must be conceded that the dairy farmer in Britain was justified in the attitude he had taken with regard to the quota, as no doubt the New Zealand farmer, if he were in the same position, would also ask for protection. Mr. Rundle strongly advocated advertising dairy produce in Britain, holding that the amount of the additional small levy could be well spent in advertising. Indeed, ,it had been suggested to him that £400,000 should be expended in an advertising campaign as it was considered that with Empire trade now in the forefront the present was the psychological moment to advertise and introduce New Zealand produce into districts, where it was not getting in at present. He held that with its “sunkist pastures” and Empire trade New Zealand possessed the best advertising material in the. world, those being too excellent items to anchor the advertising to. ’ ’ - Mr. Rundle also stressed- the necessity for using every endeavour to increase the local consumption of cheese. At present New Zealand consumed, more cheese per capita than did England, but here was room for further consumption. Formerly they had not worried much about stimulating local consumption, but at present-with stocks of 139,000 crates in Britain as against 66,000 crates' at this time last year the position was differerit. The Taranaki Federation had taken up the matter and with a view to encouraging greater consumption it had been decided that various companies should manufacture a certain quantity of cheese, , mature it,- guarantee the qualify and then place it on the local market. . The Bell Block company had fallen into line and was manufacturing a ton of medium cheese which, when matured, would be placed into the pool with a view to a comprehensive local marketing scheme. The cheese would be graded, by officers of the dairy division, which were heartily co-operating in the scheme, which it was hoped would encourage the consumption of more cheese. • ' ■