DAIRY BOARD

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXX, Issue 20166, 22 July 1935, Page 4

DAIRY BOARD

SOUTH CANTERBURY WARD ANNUAL CONFERENCE Many subjects of importance to dairymen were dealt with at the annual South Canterbury District Wai'd Conference at Temuka on Saturday when Mr John Dunlop, South Island Ward member, presided over a gathering including representatives of companies from Waimate to Ashburton, officials of factories and manv producers. The chairman said it was the first time he had met producers from South Canterbury, but he hoped in the future to meet them on many occasions when he would be able to tell them of the progress being made by the Dairy Board. In other places he had touched on the work of the former Board, but in the present case there was no need for that as Mr W. Lee, the member for the former Middle Ward, had kept his producers well informed on all matters of interest to the industry. (Applause.) He then introduced Mr C. P. Agar, deputychairman of the Board. Mr Agar said that the annual conference to be held in Wellington in September would be the first parliament of the dairymen of the Dominion, and it was expected that from it much valuable information for the future guidance and policy of the Board would be gleaned. Though many had admired the work of the former board, there was no doubt that the present one, because of its smaller numbers, would be able to function more efficiently. The new Board would be cautious and discreet in its actions, but would have the courage to put ali its decisions, once made, before the producers in the firm belief that they would be in the industry’s best interests. Among the many things occupying the Board at present were several important policy questions, and it was hoped to be able shortly to put the Board’s decisions forward. The question of zoning, amalgamation and rationalisation was occupying much attention at present, and probably would take a long time to solve. The Board was endeavouring, to settle affairs in districts where opinions differed by friendly conferences, and where such conferences could not reach satisfactory agreements an inquiry would be instituted from which it was expected that helpful recommendations would be brought down. It was expected to have all the difficulties smoothed out in the coming season ready to put into operation in the following year. In dealing with the problems the Board would have the co-operation of the Executive Commission. Farm Instruction. The Board had been urged to take herd testing under its wing, said Mr Agar, with a view to cheapening it and organising it on better lines. While the Board was agreeable to do all it could to benefit herd testing, it was not desirous of taking over the big overhead costs involved, and some decision would have to be made that would obviate that difficulty. However, the problem was being considered in the belief that much could be done to help the work nationally. The problem of research would have to be dealt with and the Board had decided to discuss the question with the Government and try to put it on a sound financial footing. A system of instruction seemed desirable and necessary. He could understand the attitude of North Canterbury producers in opposing dairy farm instruction. One would think that dairy farming was an exact science, and that nothing could be done for the common good. From his own experience that was not so. He had found that the visits of instructors to factories had been able to bring about much improvement. It was only logical that an instructor must learn many of the good methods as he went about his work and be able to benefit all by an exchange of ideas. While a system of inspection would not be kindly looked upon, instruction would be welcomed by the majority of dairyfarmers and the industry as a whole. The problems in connection with shipping had been occupying the Board’s attention, and he was pleased to say that the conditions of shipping inspection and the lower claims resulting would make a saving in marine insurance of approximately £20,000 for the coming season. Representations had been made from time to time by the industry for a better system '1 arrivals in England and with the improvements in ship design it was exexpected to be able to arrange a definite weekly arrival of produce in the Old Country. Local Marketing. One major problem that the Board had to deal with was the better marketing of butter locally. It some districts the question could be cleared up in one meeting, but when it came to settling the problem for the Dominion as a whole there were many difficulties to be met. There was an intense desire by the industry for the Board thoroughly to investigate the position and that would be done. The Board was aware of the fact, that the selling of cheese In the Dominion was prejudiced by the fact that the cheese put on local markets was not always of the highest quality and attention would be given to the matter as soon as possible. Mr Dunlop dealt with the marketing regulations introduced by the former Board. He said it had been stated that the industry could not go on with them as at present. It must either go forward or go back, and he would stand for going forward. Whatever was to be done would be made known to producers before it was accomplished. The Board had had an agreement with Australia that if they kept their minimum price fixed New Zealand would do likewise. Australia had had difficulty in fixing its price and New Zealand had suffered to a certain extent. In about six months’ time members of the Board would be going to Australia to discuss the question again. Mr Davis had been recalled from London for his views after seven years and to afford him the opportunity of presenting an Engi'shman’s attitude toward New Zealand produce to the Board before he renewed his association with the industry in this country. Had it not been for the visit of Messrs Forbes and Coates and the necessity for having a representative in England in case their meat quota discussions should extend to dairy produce, Mr Davis would have been back in the Dominion by now. As it was he was on the water and after the Board had heard what he had to saw regarding English conditions, the producers of the country might have the opportunity of meeting him in the course of a Dominion wide tour. One matter that would have ,o be attended to was advertising. The Board was spending £20.000 on it now, but that amount would have to be increased to £40.000 and that would seem a small enough amount for the return that would be secured. The value of advertising would be realised when even the English importers had taken it up and were offering to contribute toward it annually. The Board had also to consider the advisability of takine over the control of dairy pro-

duce from the factory to the store and while stored—work which was now under the Dairy Division. The Board would be asking for the complete control of produce from the factories until it was landed in England. Foreign Markets Mr Dunlop then invited questions from the meeting, and Mr W. H. Staniland said that one read much in the newspapers concerning the opportunities for New Zealand produce sales in Japan and the East. It had been mentioned that £40,000 might be spent on advertising, and he thought that £2OOO of that could wisely be spent on investigation in the East and in propaganda. There would be a trade exhibition in Japan shortly, and he understood that as yet no effort had been made in New Zealand to have dairy produce featured. Mr Agar said it was one of the questions that was engaging the attention of the Board and Executive Commission. An investigation was to be made, and although he could not know beforehand he would not be surprised if the results of the inquiry were discouraging. The question of new markets extended further than Japan. There were all the countries of Europe to be considered, too, but it appeared as though stabilisation of international trade relations would have to be tackled first. Another question asked was where the Board intended to get sufficient men capable enough for engagement as instructors in dairying at such short notice. Mr Dunlop said that the Board had nothing to do with the appointment of instructors. . That was being undertaken by the Dairy Division. There were quite a number of men available, and no doubt Mr Singleton would see that only men qualified for the job would be engaged. Care would have to be taken to ensure that the instructors did not become inspectors. The remark that Danish butter was more popular because it was more spreadable, was made, and it was asked why New Zealand butter was less spreadable. v Mr Agar said that the trouble was due to brine-cooling in factories. The sudden cooling knocked the relation of the solid and liquid content out of relation one to the other. The only way to get it back was to break down the resulting solidity by reworking the butter. Honey that was unspreadable could be broken down by mincing. Appointment of Instructors Referring to the proposed introduction of a system of instructors, Mr A. Johnson said that if the instructors were not better than the past inspectors they would be no help at all. Something more in the nature of a veterinary surgeon was wanted by the producer. All knew how to clean their machines and keep the surroundings tidy. Mr Dunlop said that if a veterinary man were appointed it would be like sending a doctor around to have the drains of a town cleaned up. There were men on farms all over New Zealand who were not bothering to keep their equipment clean. Mr R. McDowell (Ashburton) said he was sorry to hear that the instructors would be appointed by the Dairy Division. He could not see that 50 or 60 thoroughly competent men could be appointed immediately. It was a pity that young men had not been trained at Massey College or elsewhere to fit them for the work. A lot of practical help was needed that only a thoroughly competent man could give. Mr Staniland said that the average dairy farmer already knew how to produce first grade milk or cheese. The men who had inspected factories often did not know as much as the managers with years of experience. Every man was ready to welcome the instructors and hoped that they would be able to help practically and efficiently. Mr Dunlop said he knew what farmers were afraid of. Those who were obtaining good results would not be harrassed. Mr Andrew (Ashburton) asked if it would be possible to have a supervisor of directorates and executives of companies, and Mr Dunlop said that on the previous day a resolution had been carried in Christchurch agreeing to an entire investigation of the position of dairying in Canterbury. The Executive Commission would undertake the work from an independent point of view, and the results of their investigation would possibly be sufficient if not drastic. The chairman said that the meeting would need to appoint two delegates to the Dominion Conference in September. A resolution, proposed by Messrs P. M. Downes and R. M. Mills, that the South Canterbury district have one butter and one cheese representative, was carried on a call of voices. Mr R. McDowell, chairman of the Ashburton Dairy Company, was appointed the representative of butter interests. Messrs H. H. Meredith (Waimate). W. H. Staniland (Clandeboye) and P. M. Downes (Milford) were nominated for the cheese interests, . and some discussion followed on the question of deciding the election. It was eventually agreed that both cheese and butter interests vote on the cheese representative, and Mr H. H. Meredith was elected. Thanks were returned by Messrs McDowell and Meredith, and a vote of thanks was passed to the chairman.