ANNUAL MEETING

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 82, 19 June 1945, Page 6

ANNUAL MEETING

EAST COAST DAIRY ASSN. PRESIDKXT'S REPORT Tlie Annual Meeting of the East Coast Dairy Association was held i* the County Council Chambers on Saturday morning, when a number of representatives of the various dairy companies in this area were present to discuss problems concerning factories operating in this, dis;trict. Delegates were present from the Tauranga, Rangitaiki, Opotiki, Tc Kaha Tc. Puke, Opouriao and Waimana companies, together -with 'Mr A. F. Murdoch, M.P., the Association's member on the Dairy Board who addressed the meeting. Various remits were discussed, the first being one from the Tauranga Co-operative Dairy Association asking that the Dairy Companies in the Bay consider the advisability of inaugurating • a bulk buying scheme lor. factory requisites and trading departments. It was decided that a committee should be formed cons.ist.ing of the, Chairman, Mr J. S. Rae XOpouriao) and the Secretary to investigate the matter and report back when a decision had been reached. From the Tc Kaha Dairy Company came a remit asking that the farm cost allowance lie excluded from orders operating on dairycheques it. not being a payment on dairy produce as such, but an allowance payable to meet the Increased costs of running a farm. It was decided that representations should lie made to the Minister accordingly. Explaining the position with regard to fertiliser, Mr J- S. Rae read a letter received from the Railways Department, in which it was stated that the serious position with regard to this essential commodity was not so much due to the railways as to the manure works themselves. The position at many of the works was that road and rail loading had to be carried out from the same platform. Accordingly the lorries were loaded first, and the railway trucks left till last. At the end of each day empty waggons were always on hand and the works employees would not work overtime to relieve the position. Enlarging on the position_ Mr Murdoch stated that apparently some of the companies were doing their utmost to ease the position but others were inclined to fall down on the job. They must do all in their power to see that the works produced to the and that the trucks were loaded and dispatched as speedily as possible. The position with regard to cement was also raised and it was sug-» gested that application be made for cement to be made available for repair work to sheds and outbuildings etc.

In his address to the meeting Mr Murdoch presented a few facts and figures relative to the dairy indusand the export trade to Great Britain. These- included a number of subsidies which were paid to manufacturers in New Zealand of certain commodities such as fertiliser? butter boxes cheese crates and cow covers, etc. He also queried the source of this money 'which he said, came from the Dairy Industries Account. This he said meant that producers were merely paying money to themselves. he saitl that when things were back to normal producers would have the handling of their own produce. He. knew they could adopt better methods than, those being used at present and he also knew that they would get a better spi« } than they were getting now. following is the annual report which was presented by the president:— Owing to petrol and other travelling the Executive has only met once to confer with representatives of the National Dairy Association and the Dairy Producers' Association and a special meeting oi the Association was. called to discuss the proposed strike of dairy lactory employees. Any other important matters have been dealt with through the secretary by letter and telephone. Kepiesentation: During the j*car Messrs J. S. Rae and W. A. Mc-

Cracken were re-appointed as Ward Delegates to the Dominion Dairy Board Conference. All companies will have received the Con Terence report. War Conditions: Now that hostilities have ceased in Europe the demand for I'ood has greatly increased and I am sure all farmers will do their utmost to increase production. Finance: From the Income and Expenditure Account it will be observed that the income of the Association for tile piu't year has exceeded its expenditure by -Is 'id. In view of the satisfactory financial position of the Association it is recommended that as in the past few years the .subscriptions for the ensuing year be at the same reduced rates. '