DAIRY ASSOCIATION

Waikato Times, Volume 132, Issue 22063, 14 June 1943, Page 4

DAIRY ASSOCIATION

YEAR’S ACTIVITY REVIEWED “No effort has been spared by members in their endeavours to obtain prices and conditions for the farmer that will enable him to maintain and increase production, but their efforts are hampered by continually rising costs without any increase in prices received,’’ said the chairman of the South Auckland Dairy Association, Mr S. A. Ferguson, in his report to the annual meeting today. Dairy farming, like any other business, cannot be carried on and production maintained and increased unless the price received is sufficient to cover cost and to provide for a reasonable standard of living for the farmer, his family and his employees. In his review of the year’s activities the chairman mentioned the change back from cheese-making to butter-making which was completed after considerable expense and inconvenience to suppliers and dairy companies, the co-ordination of transport of cream with the view of saving benzine and tyres, the Government’s scheme of stabilising costs and prices, the shortage of suitable labour for farms and factories, the unsatisfactory position of farm dairy instruction, carriers’ charges for transport and the compulsory use of serpentine superphosphate. During the year Mr Seifert retired from the executive, and Mr D. T. •Davies, who succeeded him as chairman of the Morrinsville Co-operative Dairy Company, Ltd., was elected to fill the vacancy. The Oparau Cooperative Dairy Company, Ltd. applied for and was admitted to membership of the association. Annual Levy U nchanged The annual levy, on a butterfat basis, was fixed at the same figure as last year, and only 50 per cent of the scale will be collected. The two vacancies on the executive were filled by the re-appointment of Messrs W. Harbutt (Cambridge) and W. Darrall (Tatua). Other members of the executive are Messrs W. Marshall (New Zealand Dairy Company), S. A. Ferguson (Norfolk). E. H. Rhodes (Te Awamutu), W. Perry I'Bruntwood), P. H. Hawke (Hinuera) and Davies (Morrinsville). Mr W. Perry (Bruntwood) was re-appointed delegate to the Employers* Association, Auckland branch. Discussion was taken in committee on the effects of the new award for dairy factory workers. Mr Marshall stated that negotiations on certain points would be continued in Wellington next Monday by representatives of the parties concerned.