SOUTHERN. CHEESE SALES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 791, 14 April 1910, Page 8

SOUTHERN. CHEESE SALES.

''; ', THE NEW ARRANGEMENT..; A. few 'weeks ago the details of the South Island Dairy Association's scheme for tho holding of periodical sales ." of cheese at Dnnedin were fully set out in The Dojhwox. Now that the members of the association have decided, by 21 votes tq seven, on its adoption, it. is worth noting the amendments-that have been made in the original draft. At Friday's conference at Edendale the scheme was ; considered clause by clause, and three alterations were made. Clauso i' provided" that each factory should put its own reserve on its cheese. This was altered, as it was feared that uneven rates of 'reserve would -be a great stumbling-block. The reserve is now to bo fixed'by a. council, ou which will sit. one representative from each-factory selling. Clause 10 was also altered. It, provided .that Tall unsold cheese should be consigned .to two agents in London. After, some discussion the conference decided that better results would probably be obtained by shipping to one agent only. The remaining amendment was in connection, with the place of sale, .which.was fixed at Dnnedin in the draft. Southland objections overruled this, and' tho regular sales will be held at Invercargill. Dunedin and Lyttelton are also to have sales for the disposal of the northern produce.

When the adoption, -of the scheme was moved two speeches in opposition were made. '

: ..Mr. Gray (Mataura) explained that, although formerly an advocate of monthly sales of the cheese, he had on reconsideration of the question' changed his views. 'He now felt that such sales would mean that many people would buy as speculators, and that they would be, forced, to .unload at a loss. The sequel would be that the cheese would be sold at a reduced price in the- English markets, and'that in due course the reduced rates would reflect on future sales in New Zealand. He maintained that the proper course to pursue was to organise for direct shipments to be' made to bo dealt with by a special .representative of the-association;in London., ' Mr.,Jas. Sawers pointed out that peri-' odieal sales worked well' in Canada. ' ■';' ! Mr.' ' Fowler-'• (Kehhinjton) considered that a system of : comparatively- small sales would mean a hand-torinouth existence, for the factories,- and : that they would, as indicated by! Mr. Gray, prejudice later sales. - _.- . ~,.