DAIRY INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 226, 18 June 1919, Page 10

DAIRY INDUSTRY

ANNUAL MEETING OF ASSOCIATION

REVIEW BY PRESIDENT

DIFFICULTIES REGARDING PRODUCTH®

HEAVY BURDEN ON THE

FARMERS

(Special Reporter.)

Palmerston North, June 17. The twenty-fiftii uniiual meeting of the National Dairy Association of New Zealand, Limited, was held to-day, tho president, .Mr. A. Aiorton, occupying tho chair. There was a large attendance t f members.

In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, details of which have already been published in. The Dominion, the president referred to tho euccesuiul termination of hostilities, Peace .had. not yot been 6igned, but they hoped that it would not ibo long before that very desirablo end would be consummated. Enormous sacrifices had been made, and they trusted that they had not been, in Tain. Now Zealand had responded nobly in the causo of liberty, and the burden cast upon, the Empire and the Dominion had been Yery heavy. The Government would have to- consider deeply how that burden oould be wiped out. To do that it had been stated that it would he necessary to increase production. They were trying to do that, but the figures for tho past fivo or six years showed that production had not increased to a very great extent. That was due largely, to withdrawals of men from tie primary industries for war purposes. \ There had also been an increase in the cost of labout and a general raising of the cost of duction. Manures had gone up in price, and the policy of the Government in fixing prices had not tended to increase production. Rather, production had been decreased. The Government had been shown that it was impossible* to increase the production of butter by fixing prices and in this connectionit .was a fact that tanners had been bearing a burden which should be borno by ihe community as a whole. Representations on tho point had been made to the Government, which bad replied that rinal consideration of the subject would be arrived at when tho party leaders returned. An Unusual Season. From a climatic point of view the P 3 j been tho worst New Zealand had ever experienced. This was another factor which was'responsible for production being poor. The ecawn had been unusual and severe, and one which it was hoped they would, not again experience for a very long time. Notwithstanding tho difficulties encountered, the quality of the products of, the Dominion had been high, and had not deteriorated much. That' was oreditablo to the producers. When the whole of the output was sold to the Imperial Government it did not tend to increase the standard of the products, for by selling to one customer there was not that keen rivalry which existed when tho output of tho factories had to be distributed to a number of clients. It was possible that the policy which had been followed for the past few years in respect to the products of the country would be extended for some time. A statement to that effect had boon made by tho Hon. IV. D. S.. Mac Donald, but it was not certain whether it meant that tho Imperial Government would continue to buy the Dominion's-products or whether the Dominion Government would maintain the fixation of prices.. However,' they would know in the course of a few weeks what was. to be done. 'Storage accommodation had been poor' during the last few years, but the prospects of produce in the stores being lifted at a more rapid pace were now brighter. There was every likelihood of the .accumulated stocks of cheese being considerably reduced. I

Supplies of White Pins.. Supplies of white pine for butter Loses' had not improved, and in some parts of New Zealand producers had to fulfil their requirements .by using- other timbers. Recently, howoyer, owing to the regulations governing the export of . timber,' conditions regarding whito pine had become better. There was urgent need for tlio Government to Rive attention to the matter of afforestation. The sooner steps were token to grow a substitute for ■ white pine the better would it be for the butter industry. A feeling existed in the minds of dairymen that-they were not getting all they possibly could out of their raw products, and it was essential that means should be devised for utilising to better advantage the product of the cow. Two representatives of the dairy fanners had been, sent abroad to gather information in regard to tho marketing of produce, aud it was to be hoped that some tangible good would result. During the past year the' relations of the employees and the managers of the industry had been of the happiest description. In most of tho factories recommendations for improvement of the salaries of managers had been agreed toi bat thert were a few isolated instances in which tho managers were still receiving inadequate remuneration. This was not fair, as. managers should bo paid well for the important functions which they had to fulfil. Speaking of tho balance4heet of the association, Mr. Morton said it revealed an exceedingly satisfactory position. The trading account of the association was profitable and much business had been transacted. Mr. W. V, Harkncss (Tariki) seconded the. motion. The. report and balance-sheet were adopted without discussion. Messrs. E. Allen (Cambridgo) and H. D.'lforsyth (Eltham) were reappointed to the 'biard of directors, and Mr. T. Moss (Wellington district) v.;nj elected a direc. tor in place of Mr. A. Macfarla.no (Palliatun), whose retirement was announced. On tho motion of tho president it was decided that tho association should place on reoord its appreciation of the long and faithful service Mr. Macfnrlane had given as a member of the board of directors, at the same time wishing him prosperity in the future. Mr. Macfarlane thanked the members for passing the resolution, and said that his 17 or 18 years' connection with the directorate had been a pleasant one. The association was doing good work for tho dairy farmers, and was deserving of every support. The fact that the 'balancc-sheet had been adopted without discussion showed that the finances of the association were satisfactory, Mr. C. D. Morpeth was ro-elocted auditor of tho association.