NATURAL RESULT

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21144, 20 June 1940, Page 2

NATURAL RESULT

D AIR YING CONDITIONS DROP IN PRODUCTION DISCOURAGEMENT ALLEGED (By Telegraph.—Press Association) TIMARU, Thursday The annual conference of the South Island Dairy Association, the first held outside Dunedin for over 20 years, opened in Timaru this morning, with Mr H. Meredith presiding over 80 delegates, who were welcomed by the Mayor, Mr W. G. Tweedy. The annual report disclosed a credit on the year’s work of £1414. The directors recommended that £522 be transferred to capital fund, and the making of contributions of £IOO to the fund for the relief of farmers who suffered loss in the recent Taieri floods and £IOO to the New Zealand Red Cross, carrying a balance of £691 forward. Mr Meredith in his address said the surplus was the best shown for 20 years, the result proving the value of co-operation. He expressed disappointment at the drop in dairy production in the Dominion, which he said could only be expected in view of the conditions to which the industry had been subjected. Dairy Farmers Disheartened It was clear, said Mr Meredith, that dairy farmers had become disheartened at the disregard of their interests which had been shown by the Government, and had been driftto other occupations which offered a better standard of living. The action of the Minister of Marketing in' refusing to accept the findings of the 1938 price tribunal, and by so doing denying the people engaged ir. the industry just treatment, deserved the strongest condemnation. It would be a most serious matter for the country if the decline in primary production were allowed to continue. Mr Meredith criticised the Dominion’s war effort, saying it was unworthy of a country which had enjoyed the protection of Britain for a century. He knew the people engaged in the dairy industry were prepared to accept whatever sacrifice might be necessary on their part, but at the same time they expected others to be called upon to bear an equal share in the task which lay ahead.