DAIRY CONFERENCE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 221, 19 September 1941, Page 5

DAIRY CONFERENCE

PROBLEMS DEBATED QUESTION OF INCREASING BURDEN OF COSTS REMITS CARRIED (Press Assn.) Wellington, Sept. IS. A suggestion by the Minister ol' Agriculture, Hon. J. G. Barclay, that certain problems facing tne dairy industry should be placed before a special committee, or which he wouid be chairman and winch would include two members of the industry, caused a long discussion at the Daily Conference to-day, which debated points raised by tlie Minister in his address, and went on to deal with remits.

The chairman, Mr. W. E. Hale, said: “I think that it might have been possible for Mr. Barclay to give us something just a bit more definite about the way m whicn he can compensate the cheese pioducers lor some of their extra costs, and to leave a little less of the burden to be carried by the proposed committee."

Mr. Hale said it was unfortunate that first on the Ministers list were capital costs incut led by the Government, and. in particular, the cost of providing emergency cool storage. Remembering that cheese was to be given absolute priority of shipment, it would seem most unlikely that emergency storage would be required for cheese for any but a very limited extent.

As for a special committee to which the Dairy Board was asked to appoint two members, it was going to be a tough job to place on the shoulders oi any two men. It was really for the conference to decide whether it would accept the suggestion. Mr, T. E. Blyde said that the committee should be enlarged to include at least three dairy representatives.

Mr. W. Marshall said he objected to remits before the conference being referred to the committee where the dairy industry, with only two members, would he outvoted.

The following remits were adopted: “That this conference approves of tiie principle of the payment for produce under war conditions at a fixed time after being put into store, this time to be such that it will not involve the industry in any greater average charges for interest and storage »han have had to be borne during the last two years." “That the Dairy Board be asked to set out in specific terms, and take to the Government, (he principle that because (he dairy industry is being asked to work on the same price for the fourth season in succession, despite increased costs, the Government should he requested to accept the responsibility fcr war risk insurance on all ffiiry produce while held in cool stores."

“That ,n view of Ute difficulties associated with the working of night shifts in cheese factories, and the fact, that the -ame price is obtained for cheese grading 91 points as is received for cheese scoring 921 points, the Government be requested, during the period when it is necessary to work night shifts, to pay a standard guaranteed price for all cheese grading 91 points and up—ard to 965 points."

“That one halfpenny a pound butterfat ho paid on all supply delivered by suppliers twice daily; also that all suppliers who have changed over to cheese' since June 1. IfMO. using a cartage service, he subsidised to an extent, not exceeding one halfpenny a pound butterfat for cartage costs in excess of one halfpenny a pound.” “That to meet cases where a supplier considers (hat he is suffering real financial hardship through changing over to cheese for the war emergency period, he should have a right of appeal Io an authority to have the the power to make an appropriate monetary grant." “That where butter manufacturing costs are increased, becatii’e of loss of suppliers to cheese, tiie Government be asked Io make leusona'ole compensation for such loss.”