DAIRYING INDUSTRY

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19450, 14 December 1934, Page 7

DAIRYING INDUSTRY

THE BOARD’S WORK.. REVIEW BY THE CHAIRMAN. i THE GREAT FALL IN PRICES. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. A review of the growth of the dairy export Industry over nearly 11 years was made by the chairman of the 'Dairy produce' Board, Mr W. lorns, at the second Dominion conference of Ward delegates to-day. He staled that butter shipments had increased o’ver 163 . per cent, and cheese over 33 per cent, while butter prices had. decreased, nearly 50 per cent and cheese over 53 per cent. Great Britain’s butter' consumption had risen over *l4 lb. per head to probably 25 lb. Margarine consumption had decreased. The cost of production had fallen 'considerably, but nowhere nearly sufficient' to meet tho tremendous fall in value. 1 In view of the proposed change in the constitution of the board it was 'necessary 'to refer to some matters covering the period since the board’s Inception. The first meeting was held on January 31, 1924, and a comparison between 1924 and to-day would be of interest. Interesting Comparisons. Tho comparisons given were for the seasons ended July 31, this year being In, brackets: —Shipments to United Kingdom: Butter 51,980 tons (136,941) ; cheese, 74,752 tons (100,131) ; average prices, according to Messrs. Weddell and Company: Butter, 186 d (80d); cheese, 101 s4d (47s 3d). Mr lorns gave the total imports of dairy produce to the United Kingdom as follows:—l924, butter 224,009 vtons, cheese 138,942 butter 400,500 tons, cheese 150,829 tons. “ When to these factors one added the high tariff barriers, quotas, and embargoes,” he said, “we can see some reason .for our present position. In spite of it all, however, Great Britain had eaten all the butter sent her."

In regard to the Dairy Commission’s recommendations, he said that he believed they were soundly based .and would 1 make for the ultimate good of the Industry.

Out of 'the levy the board spent on advertising in Great Britain approximately £l6-6,000: on dairy research approximately £25,000, Dairy Exporter £25,000, herd testing £6OOO, shipping Inspector £IB,OOO, shipping work at branches £33,000, general administration £27,500, leaving a balance to accumulated funds of £27,500. The board had concentx*ated on the reduction of the costs of transport to the United Kingdom market, storage, etc., with beneficial results.

OONFERENOE AT WELLINGTON. APPEAL BY MINISTER. THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. The dairy conference was opened by the Minister of Hon. G. E. MacMillan. He agreed with Mr lorns that there was a great deal of misunderstanding In New Zealand, tout he would not say whether it was due to want of knowledge or through the deliberate efforts of interested people. It was the intention of the Government to appoint an executive Commission of Agriculture. Though some of the delegates did not approve of that course he would ask the conference to devote their attention to assist the legislation. He would welcome a lead as to what the conference thought should be done in tiie interest® of the industry. He assured the conference that any resolutions brought to him would receive careful consideration.

Alteration of Aot Urged.

The discussion on the Agriculture Emergency Powers .Act was initiated by Hon. F. Waite, who moved a resolution to urge that In setting up the Executive Commission the Act should be iso altered that producers’ representatives should he nominees of the Dairy Produce Board and the -Meat Board respectively. Mr Waite said they all knew that quite natural difficulties had occurred between the Meat Board and the Dairy Board over the" exportation of boner cattle, bobby calves and pork, and some organisation was desirable in order that the work might be co-or-dinated. The Meat and Dairy Boards should have the right to say who should have the right to represent them on the commission. Statement by Minister. The Minister ol’ Agriculture said that one of the objections to the appointment of the chairmen of the two boards was t)iat it conflicted with the principle of the legislation that representatives should he paid for one job only. It was to be a one-man job. He did not think the Government would weaken on that. lie thought lie was safe in saying that when Die appointment was made it would be an appointment, entirely satisfactory to the industry. Mr Macmillan said he wanted to work, and the Government wanted to work, for the industry as much as possible. The Government had tried i to get an organisation able to deal with oilier Governments, and go to the I Government itself for assistance out or the Consolidated Fund for adverlis- ! iirg and expansion of markets, instead |of money being taken out of a de- ! pressed industry. It was Die intention of the Government to appoint tbe executive commission and also to get on with tho business. Mr A. G. A. Sexton (Pukekohe) moved an amendment expressing opposition lo the whole policy of the Act, and the opinion that, ils provisions were likely to increase costs and give power Lo Introduce a quota without furl her reference to Die industry or Parliament. His specific objection related to the setting up of the executive commission and to what were referred to as “ its over-riding powers.” Mr F, E, Cullen ( Maungaturoto) seconded the amendment. Dictatorial Powers. Mr G. Buchanan (New Zealand Cooperative Dairy Company) supported Ihe amendment moved by Mr Sexlo-i. He claimed that the legislation gave (Continued in next column.)

to the Minister dictatorial powers. In his opinion, such powers should not be given to any commission, let alone any Minister of the Crown. Replying, the Minister said that the Consolidated Fund would bear the cost of investigating and opening up new markets. The Government had been fully seized for some time with the necessity for this, and he had asked the Minister of Industries and Commerce to provide £250,000 on his estimates to investigate and And new markets. Nobody wanted to go outside the British market, hut if they were forced to,, provision should he made accordingly. The Minister referred to / criticism which had been made to the effect that Die Act would restrict production and increase costs, but he said he could not find that anywhere in Die Act. Mr Macmillan stressed the necessity for a co-ordinating board, particularly in view of negotiations with the Old Country. * Referring to big companies representation on the commission, he said that the suppliers could make a change in tlieu- personnel of the directors if they were not satisfied with the nominations.

Proponed Poll

Discussing Die contention lliat (here should have been a poll of the industry, the Minister said that everybody knew that certain things ought to be done, and when somebody was found who would do them, they should lie supported. Any quota vfould not, be put into operation without the Government’s consent.

i A further amendment by Mr it. H. 'McKenzie (Pokenot. (hat Die executive commission consist of three members instead of four, was heavily defeated, and Mr Waite’s motion was passed. II was decided lo recommend lliat elected members cvf Ihe Dairy Board lie increased toy one. and also Dial, the Government nominees be reduced by J one.