BUTTER & CHEESE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3136, 14 July 1917, Page 8

BUTTER & CHEESE

PRODUCERS' CLAIMS

DEPUTATION TO THE PREMIER

THE SEASON'S OUTLOOK

More than one hundred representatives of tlio JN'oiv Zcilnnd dairying industry muted upon the Prime Jlinister (Kigh't Hon. Mr. Massey) last evening to protest against the butter-fat levy and make suggestions on other points. The deputation was headed by Mr. A. Morton, president of the National Dairv Association, and its spokesmen stated "their views in detail and at great length; Mr. Morton referred first to tho but-ter-iat levy, and traced tho negotiations that had ended in the imposition of the Jevv 'i J-he producers had been led to behevo that if they paid the levy their export trade would proceed unchecked; But unfortunately tho necessary shipping had not becomo available, and at the close of tho season the producers found themselves with about cnequarter of their output still iu the couiiti'y. Tho fanners regarded the levy us a class tax. The people generally vero better able to pay full prices for butter than tho farmers were to pay the levy. ; Ihe local consumption of factory butter was ljlbs. per head per month. Tho levy saved the consumer 6d. per head per month, but it cost the producers .£300,000 per annum. Many of the factory suppliers were small men. Hβ quoted figures to show that a largo proportion of the dairy farmers received under jGIOO a year each from tho ketones.

The Hon. W. D. S. Mac-Donald: Is that their only sourco of income? Mr. Morton detailed the course of tho negotiations that preceded tho imposition of tho butter levy, and said tlat tho deputation asked that the whole of the irioney collected should be repaid to the producers from the Consolidated iund. Ho referred next to the shortage of labour in the dairy industry. Many dairy workers were being called up in tho ballots and exemptions were being refused. Three-fourths of the reniaimng essential workers ivero Second Division men, and the deputation wanted au assurance that a minimum supply of skilled labour would be left for tho maintenance of the- industry. Pull information had been supplied to the National Efficiency Board. Another fact the de-. putation wished to place before tho Government was that more labour was required for the production of cheese than of butter. If the butter factories were to turn to cheeso production they must have labour. The general labour shortage in the country required attention. At least one able-bodied man must be left on each farm. Tho farmers wanted t-j win tho war and realised that no effort must be spared in that direction. But production must be maintained and public revenuo must bo provided. A reassuring statement had beon ma do regarding shipping. Tho deputation underRtood that (seventeen steamers would bo loaded in New Zealand before tho end of September, but wished to know what tho position would bo later. Some 225,000 boxes of butter and 138,000 crates of eheeso weue in store. If a saving could be effected in tho insulated chambers by cutting carcasses of mutton and packing more closely, this should be done in order that space might be made for butter. Mr. Morton proceeded to arguo that tho cheese producers ought to bo paid more than tho O.Jd. per pound (hey had agreed to accept for Inst season's cheese, sinco the Imperial Government had paid a higher price for Canadian cheeso. Some factories had suffered loss owing to tho fact that they had secured contracts at 10d. aud moro per pound before the Government requisitioned the whole output at 9!. d. The factories thought tluit the deduction for agents' commission was not justified in the caseof factories which hnd-bspn compelled to break good contracts. Ho urged that the Government should seo that moro cool storage was provided. Mr.' Himling -asW that tho Government should talco steps to conserve tho stocks of white pine in the Dominion for tho benefit of the dairy industry. The standing timber would be exhausted within seven years nt the present rate of consumption. The deputation that all compact areas of whitn pine on Crown lands should be reserved for the dniryiiiß industry, that tho Government should assist dairy organisations to buy tiinber-benrimr areas, and that inquiries should lie made regarding the importation of suitable substitute timbers..

Mr. Parry fisked for information regarding the ehippinp prospects. _ The producers Unci lieoii , nskiiicr if it w_ n<! worth whilo maintaining production in view of the heavy accumulations. Jfc suggested that G per cent of the available shipping space should l)e reserved for butter, in order jo keep the industry moving. .A definite arrangement of this kind would relieve the present acute situation. The space occupied by 250,000 lamb carcasses, representing ,£250.000. would occuny tlio sa-mo space ns 785.000 bn\ps of butter representing .£2,2!)f1.f10f1. This was a consideration to be lcept in mind by the Government in view of the needs of war finance. ATjout GO.OfIO peonle -were employed in the ■butter industry. Mr. Paeev nsketl if there was nnv likelihood of the Imperial Government buyina: New Zealand butter.

Mr, Massey's Reply,

Mr. Massey said that he was not going to discuss tho butter-fat levy. He understood tho position very well from the point of view of the producers, and also of the Board of Trade and the Government. He had his own views, which ho would place before Cabinet. Ho believed he would be able to place before Cabinet proposals that would improve the position materially. (Applause.) "Don't be in a hurry," said Mr. Massey. "You may be disappointed." Referring: to labour, Mr. Massey said that the claim of tho deputation for an assured minimum supply had not been unreasonable. But he wanted the deputation to realise clearly that New Zealand was at war and had definite engagements to meet. There must bo no slackening of effort, no weakening on the part of New Zealand. The reinforcements had to be maintained, no mutter what the sacrifice might be. What would it matter about revenue or production if the Empire lost the war? Tho war must be won, and the sacrifices necessary to that end must be made. Ho hoped that the war would end in the not distant future. But in the meantime the reinforcements must go forward without a check. New Zealand had to fiee tho war through. That fact must be remembered in connection with demands for tho exemption of men from military service. The question of saving refrigerating space by tho packing of mutton had received the attention of tho Government. A trial shipment had been made, and although he had not yet received an official report he understood it had been a success. The producers could rest assured that no chance of increasing the exports would be neglected. Mr. Massey proceeded to say that the Imperial authorities were doing their best to givo elfect to Uio arrangement, or implied arrangement, with the New Zealand producers. Ho had explained that New Zealand was doing its best to maintain production in tho interests of the armies and tho people of the United Kingdom, and ho believed that facilities would bo provided to got ; the produce away. Perhaps he was optimistic. The Shipping Controller in England understood tho position very well. Mr. Maesey added that ho had predicted many months ago that the position would improve in -Tnly. and his prediction Unci lieen fulfilled. There woro people, added. Mr. Massey, who said'that the New Zealand Alinis'ters had gone too far in pressing thn Imperial authorities to find ships for tho Dominion's produce and in arraiißiii|? price.* for products. But "now would it bo possible to carry on New Zealand's share of tho war if ships were not available for tho carriage of and if rcnsonablo prices were not paid for the exports? Money was an. essential of war. The Government had not tried to drivo a hard bargain with the Imperial authorities. It had iiskwl simnlv for arrangements that were fair, riciit. mid reasonable Mr. Massey added that the cheese question was very difficult. Thero had boon bungling in tho crly stagee of the negotiations for the pnrchaso of Now Zealand's output. Ho and Sir Joseph Ward ha 4 conducted the nego-

tiritions in the later stages, but when ■the representatives of the producers had offered tho output at' 9d. per pound, it had been impossible to got n better price than Did., though tho price had risen in tho meantime. Thcro had been an understanding tlmt tho Canadians were not to receive a better price than the- Nor Zealand producers, and he had heard sinco that tho 'Canadians had been paid moro than Ukl. Ue was making inquiries. Hβ had been authorised to negotiate with the Jfew Zealand producers of cheese for tho output of the coming season, which the Imperial authorities proposed to buy. A report was at present before Cabinet with regard to storage accommodation in London..

Mr. Massey remarked that he could not say if the Imperial authorities would buy the output of butter. He had made tho suggestion, but thought it hardly likely that the British Government would buy. "Yon can faiko it from me," said Air. Massey. "that the Government understands the importance of the maintenance of production, and is prepared to deal with the question."

WHAT IS THE REAL FIGURE? A few days>ago Dr. Newman asked (ho Minister of Commerce why butter was retailed at Is. Bd. in Wellington while tho price quoted by tho State meat shop in Auckland was Is. sd. pellb. Tho Departmental reply furnished by Mr. Massoy was that butter was .obtainablo in Wellington at Is. M. per lb. Dr. Newman asked another question on this point in th" House yesterday, eaying that he was informed on every hand that the price was Iβ. Sd. per lb. Mr. Massey: Tho information contained in the reply was. supplied to me by the Board of Trade, end I must take it as correct. Dr. Newmau: But it is not, fir. I am quite prepared to exonerate you, but the information is not correct. Mr. Massey said ho would be prepared to refor the matter back to tho Board of Trado.