VALUE OF CO-OPERATION

Taranaki Daily News, 11 September 1934, Page 15 (Supplement)

VALUE OF CO-OPERATION

OLDER DIFFICULTIES OVERCOME.. MR. BROADFOOT'S GREETINGS. “Every age brings to industry its own problems. In the past, the major one concerning the, dairy industry was to establish this great business on a cooperative basis. Tire thanks, not only of dairy farmers, but also of the whole community are due to those people who unselfishly pioneered this stage of the business. “The present leaders of the co-opera-tive movement are to be commended for holding firmly to the principles laid down by the pioneers, and it is to be hoped that these leaders will, at every opportunity, widen the scope of this great movement. One is surprised that the co-operative principles so established have not been more widely applied to industries in this Dominion, and the sooner they are adopted by other producers, the better for the whole community.

“The settlers of Taranaki have, in turn, successfully solved the problems of road-

ing, herd-improvement and yield per acre, only to find themselves now confronted with the major one of marketing, and this applies not only to overseas, but also locally. \ “Both markets call for products of the highest quality and greatest; purity. This means vigilance on our farms and in our sheds and factories. It demands the elimination of disease in our .herds, to enable greater purity in our products. Almost every other dairy country of note is strenuously endeavouring to eliminate the tubercular cow from its herds. We, luckily, have always had healthier stock compared with most of the other countries. They, however, are actively grappling with the problem, and shortly will have healthier stock than we possess if we do not bestir ourselves. The greatest selling slogan we could possibly have both locally and overseas is the freedom of our products from disease. ■

“Great efforts have been made to develop the overseas market, but the local one has been sadly neglected. Local consumption of raw milk and cream is capable of large expansion with advantage to the industry and also to the health of the people. Our consumption of these products per head of population is below many other countries. Marketing our products locally is surely the problem which should have been taken in hand. Especially when one realises that the price of raw milk to the producer averages, roughly, 5d per gallon, but by the time it reaches the consumer he pays about Is Bd. This calls for the closest scrutiny, and I feel sure that the dairy industry in New Zealand could be extended to handle the local market, and this with advantage to both producer and consumer/ The present costs of treatment and distribution are too high already, as disclosed in the control of milk in the city of Auckland. “Adversity is testing out the industry to-day with a vengeance, but I feel sure that the problems concerning the farming community to-day will, with perseverance and tenacity, gradually be solved. Everyone must admire the efforts being made by Britain to set’international trade moving again as it existed before the war. As this is done, so fresh openings will be made for our products with benefit to everyone.” W. J. BROADFOOT.