NATIONAL DAIRY ASSOCIATION.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 145862, 22 June 1917, Page 4

NATIONAL DAIRY ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL AIEETING. The annual meeting of members of the National Dairy Association was held in the Lecture Hall, Show Grounds, Palmerston North, on AVcdnesday, Mr. A. Alorton (chairman) presiding over a large attendance. CHAIRMAN’S ADDRESS. Tho annual report—a summary of which has already been published—was taken as read, and the Chairman, in moving its adoption, said they had every reason to congratulate themselves upon the progress which the industry had made during the year under review. AVhen they considered tho difficulties that had had to be encountered during the year it would not have been surprising had the production shown a decrease and also a falling off in the standard, but on the other hand the production had been increased and tho standard of quality had been maintained.

It was interesting, continued Mr. Alorton, to look back end see tho wonderful growth of the dairy industry during the past twenty years. In 1896 tho Dominion’s export of butter was valued at £281,000, and of cheese £130,000, making a total, of £411,000. Today there were many individual factories turning ont more than the total production of 20 years ago in both butter and cheese. For tho year ended April this year the value of onr exports of butter amounted to £2,897,000, and cheese £3,426,000, making a total of £6,324,000. The conditions at April 30, however, were somewhat unusual. They had a very largo amount of dairy produce in store, which should have been exported before that date. It was true there was not a very great difference in regard to the quantity of cheese in store as was the case at the corre-sponding-period of the previous year, but in regard to butter there was a very great difference indeed. He estimated that there was in store 200,000 boxes, which should have been exported, and if they valued this at, say £3 10s per box, it would mean an additional £700,000 in the total export value of their dairy produce, making it £7,074,000. Then again, in addition they had to take into consideration in dealing with the question of production the value of the dairy produce consumed in the Dominion, which would amount to something like 1} millions, so that the total production had actually increased until to-day it reached 8i million per annum, QUALITY. After touching upon the climatic conditions experienced during the past year, Mr. Alorton referred to the question of quality, remarking that it had been well maintained, as was evideuby the fact that there had been practically no complaints from the other end except in regard to one or two parcels of cheese, which had been overheated. This was not due to any fault in the manufacture, however, hut rather to the congestion in regard to shipping, necessitating cheese being stored where proper facilities did not exist. OCEAN TRANSPORT.

The transport of their produce to the Home market had been the most difficult question they had been up against during the past year. It had been a matter of some anxiety for several seasons, but more particularly so during the one under review. Unusually large quantities of buffer and cheese had been held in -store, and unless prompt remedies were applied there was every probability that the new season would open with a considerable amount of last season’s produce still in the stores. Representations had been repeatedly made, and still further and perhaps stronger representations would be made to the Prime Alinister and tho Minister for Finance on the question in the course of the next few days. The absolute necessity for something to be done to relieve tho present position would be brought very forcibly before them.

CONGESTION IN STORES. Consequent upon the shortage in shipping there had been considerable congestion in the works which wore in tho habit of stpring produce, so much so that large qualities of cheese had had to be stored in buildings unsuitable for the purpose. He had repeatedly urged upon those engaged in the industry the necessity of providing adequate storage so that they would be in a better position to cope with any possible -shortage of shipping, and although some districts had provided extra storage accommodation, still further accommodation would have to be provided for the coming season. Representations had also been made to the Government upon this question, and suggestions had been made as to how the difficulty might be overcome. The whole question had been referred to a. conference, which was awaiting further information before presenting its report. THE CO AUNG SEASON. Continuing, Mr. Morton dealt at

length with the purchase of last season’s output of cheese by the Imperial Government and also with the fixing of the price of butter, etc., for local consumption by the New Zealand Government and then went on to refer to the coming season’s output. Ho thought they might reasonably assume that in regard to cheese the Government would adopt the same course as last year and purchase the output, but in this connection he said the strongest efforts would be made to see that the companies got a far better deal than they did last year. They would also want to know whether, in the event of sufficient transports not being provided for the carriage of their butter and cheese, the Government intended to assist the industry financially. It was necessary that the farmer should receive a monthly cheque, even though it be a small one, against the produce held in store in the event of either the butter or cheese, or both, not being purchased by the Imperial authorities. LABOUR CONDITIONS. Another very serious question they had to meet was in regard to labour. Before long the ballots would have exhausted the whole of the First Division, and when it came to drawing on the Second Division the position would be very acute indeed, not only in reglird to production, but also in regard to manufacture, particularly the latter. He did not think be would be exaggerating the position if he said that the Second Division embraced practically three-quarters of the managers of factories in New Zealand to-day. It was a question now as to whether it was to be food or men. They could not supply both, and if the call for men must come first then the position otthe dairy industry would bo very difficult indeed. At the present time, by reason of the fact that so largo a quantity of last season’s butter was still in store, many factories, particularly in Taranaki, had already decided to change from butter to cheese. There was probably a limit as to the number of factories that would be able to make the change, owing to the difficulty of obtaining the necessary equipment, and in this connection they had to remember that they could not get material from Home. In any case, so many factories changing from butter to cheese would still further accentuate the difficulty in regard to labour because, as they ail knew, far more labour was required in a cheese factory. Representations would bo made to the Prime Minister upon this question at the earliest opportunity. WHITE PINE FORESTS. Another important matter was that of conserving _ the white pine forests of the Dominion for the making of butter boxes and cheese crates. It had been pointed out from time to time that largo quantities wore exported to Australia each year, and that unless something -was done to preserve the timber for the Dominion’s own use. a very serious position would arise in the near future. He was sorrv to say that the representations which had been made to the Government in this connection so far had not produced any good effect, but it was the intention of the executive, acting in conjunction with others interested in the matter, to make further representations at an early date, and ho sincerely trusted that the information they would be able to place before the authorities would hare some better influence than hod been the case in the past. Mr. Morton, proceeding, dealt at some length with the balance-sheet, which he said was the most satisfactory that had even been presented to the members. He mentioned that the membership had increased during the year from 199 to 231, and concluded by remarking that whilst many factories had liberally supported the association, there was still room for improvement in this direction. If the factories would do their business through the association they would find it would be to their own advantage, and at the same time would strengthen the position of tiie association.

He then formally moved the adoption of the report. Mr. O’Hara (Norsewood) seconded the motion.

Air. J. Alarx (Mangatoki) referred to the question of cool storage, and stressed the point that it was imperative that factories should take some concerted action in regard to this matter. The amount of storage available in the Dominion to day was only capable of dealing with, perhaps, onefourth of their production; this should be at least doubled, even if it cost the factories one to two hundred thousand pounds. Air. P. Nathan, referring to the question of shipping, said, the Government was not in a- position to give them any assurance upon this question. The Government was just as much in the dark as they were themselves, and they must therefore face the question of providing additional storage. After a little further discussion the motion was carried. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS. Mosstsl A. Alorton, IV. D. Powdroll, and H. D. Forsyth, the retiring directors from the Taranaki district, andMessrs T. Basset and E. Allen from the Auckland district, were re-elected. The chairman was voted £IOO in recognition of his services during the past year, an increase of £SO, and his co-directors were voted the usual remuneration of £2O each. (To be continued.)