DAIRY PRODUCE POOL.

Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15357, 4 October 1923, Page 5

DAIRY PRODUCE POOL.

ADDRESS AT WALTON. BY MR 0. E. MACMILLAN, IH.P. WHAT THE ACT ENSURES. Matters of absorbing interest to

those connected with the vital indus-

\ tries of our country were discussed S at length by Mr Macmillan at Waitoa . J on Tuesday evening. He was supporlias cd by Mr D. Bruce, who with Captain Colbeck has done much to help the farmers of the district to appreclate. the excellent provisional benefits of this projected legislation. Mr John Lawson, chairman of the gathering, in introducing the speakers said that he regretted the exceedingly short notice of Mr Macmillan's visit, but hoped that everyone not clearly seized of the chief-points of the Bill would ask questions and elucidate all difficulties. Mr C. E. Macmillan stated that he had had a very busy time speaking on x thjs topic, which he was deeply interested in, all through the East Coast district. The selling end of the business of producing for export was the v least known to the 8000 odd suppliers of dairy produce. He had personally gained considerable experience at first hand of the contracts made, and this permitted him to state at the outset that tho suppliers possessed no guarantee that Home agents furnished them -With genuine returns. A good way of checking sales accounts was by keeping in touch with other companies. The Dairy Control Bill provides for all account sales to be certified by a chartered accountant and returns tabulated. Speaking of variations in prices of equal-grade butter shipped on the same boat, in his experience ho had met with 20s per cwt difference—and no attempt at explanation made. Ho claimed additional payments of £2OO to his company, and £IOO to another company had been successfully made by his experienced efforts. It has been obvious that they had no reliable information after the produce was shipped on the boat; they had perforce to 'accept the sales-agent's figures. Mr Macmillan briefly criticised the three methods of sale procedure and their common weaknesses, and disclosed that the Home agents are purely speculative. They had clear proof of the agents getting rid of the butter hastily to meet their immediate liabilities. Again, a single company, prepared to clear at a sacrifice, could practically force other companies to sacrifice their goods also. Incidentally, the speaker mentioned that the centre of the dairy industry was no longer in Taranaii, but had shifted to the Waikato; and this had an important bearing oh certain opponents' actions and atlitudo to the Dairy Control Bill. Tho want of method in marketing and shipping was the greatest reason for Danish butter securing an average lead of 13s per cwt. over that of ours. Sir Thomas Clements had ably pointed out the remarkable saving effected by the Meat Control Board, and the huge concessions granted" the Dairy Association representatives in England. ; The thoroughness of the Danish inspectors a In traversing the United kingdom and reducing salesmanship to a fine art was remarkable. Their services were superior in every respect. Organisaiion, stated Mr Macmillian, occupied the first place in tho modern world, and if farmers arc exploited it is bom cause the conditions of their labour '! prevent them from getting together for I improvement, as the town workers I can. The Dairy Control Bill will prove tL of great assistance from the organising / viewpoint. The Board of Control will see that the brand demanded by the overseas customers will be made availr able; the individual brand was a valuj able asset, and if the farmer found that one brand continually tops the market, the, producer of the butter must be adequately rewarded by promotion to wider spheres of usefulness. It was clear that tho time had arrived for action. Even Mr Masters admitted something ought to bo done in the interests of our producers. The Board of Control would speak with authority to the proprietary concerns such as shipping combines, and they would secure equal guarantees, freights, etc., for big and small companies alike. Mr Goodfellow has found that the small amount of free New Zealand butter on the Home market is capable of doing injury to his company, and a Control Board would in this particular also be a reform. After dealing with the details of the financial aspects of the Bill Mr Macmillan sail that the gap between Danish and New Zealand returns would probably close up and top prices would be realise! when the Act became law. Mr D. Bruce, having explained certain clauses that have been somewhat ' overlooked by the farmer, dwelt on the fact that nine of twelve representatives on the Board would bo directly elected by working farmers. Ho stated also that tho shipping question was a great menace-to tho producers; one trust alone controls the entire freight on produce. , Questions of first-rate importance were answered by the speakers in oon--0 vincing fashion. Two prominent facts were elicited—that the Associated Banks are favourable to the financing of our whole export trade in dairy products, and also that 12 or 14 of the Tooley Street merchants are entirely in favour of the Dairy Control Bill. Mr L. Mapps' motion of thanks to the speakers was passed with acclamation, and Mr Bruce concluded a most instructive evening by proposing a vote of thanks to Mr J. Lawson.