DAIRY INDUSTRY

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 68, 17 September 1930, Page 12

DAIRY INDUSTRY

FREIGHT REDUCTIONS

BOARD CHAIRMAN RETURNS

MARKETING- PRODUCE

Mr. W. A. lonxs, chairman of the New Zealand Dairy Produce Control Board, returned to-day by tho Mataroa from Home. Mr. loms left New Zealand in March last to represent tho board in London principally in connection with tlio renewal of tlie shipping contract. Interviewed, Mr. lorns said that he felt that the dairy industry was exceedingly fortunate in having secured a reduction on tho shipping rates on butter and cheese- for the next three years. The shipping companies had been having a somewhat lean time, and no doubt were also suffering from the general depression. It was certain that some of tho conditions which the board had been endeavouring for some years to obtain and which had finally been agreed to, would very materially benefit the exporters. He had the assurance of the shipping companies that they would do everything possible in New Zealand to so arrange itineraries in conjunction with the Dairy and Meat, Boards that there would be as little overlapping as possible between the different. companies. That should certainly to some extent reduce the expenses of the shipping companies and prepare the way for reduced rates in the coming years. It was his opinion that everything possible should be done by the boards and the companies to secure more regular arrivals in Great Britain, as he felt that that was of paramount importance in the marketing of our produce. GROUND LOST. Speaking on cheese quality Mr. lorns said he was very much concerned regarding the quality of New Zealand cheese. He felt that considerable ground had been lost and that even if the cheese manufacturing companies were to do everything possible to improve the quality it would take some time to regain the good name which was originally enjoyed by New Zealand cheese. Ho considered that the effort on,the part of many cheese factories to secure higher yields by the co-operation of moisture or skim milk had done much harm to the industry. Touching on butter, Mr. lorns indicated that there was not very much complaint regarding the quality of the New Zealand article, except that in recent years a number of factories had been tempted to withhold their butter from the market hoping to get higher prices. That policy was to be deprecated, not only because of its effect on quality, but by reason of the fact that very few of the factories had ever gained financially by it. It was essential for retailers to secure regular supplies as they were able to do with shipments from Denmark and other competing countries. RETALIATION? Mr. lorns stated that the question of tariffs was playing a very big part in the general marketing position. The general policy appeared in most countries to be the raising of tariff barriers so as to protect their own producers. The United Kingdom, was at the present time the only country with an open door to which all countries could send their produce. It appeared to him. as if Great Britain would be forced iv the end to consider something in the nature of retaliation. This also applied to New Zealand, which, while shut out entirely of the American market, was at present importing large quantities of American goods. IMPROVED HANDLING. Mr. lorns reported that there had been a very marked improvement in the handling of New Zealand butter and cheese on tho waterfront in London Mid elsewhere, under the arrangements made by the Dairy Board, as compared with the handling observed during his i previous visit. I deferring to the demand from New Zealand and other parts of the Empire for preferential duties, Mr. lorns said that while he felt it would be diflicult to secure, there was a steadily growing feeling in Groat Britain in favour of buying within, the Empire. He referred to the question of bulk purchase which has already been . given some prominence in New Zealand by reason of its appearing on the agenda j paper of the forthcoming Imperial Conference, and gave it as his opinion that it would be most unlikely that anything would come of the question. So fax as the- standing of the board in London was concerned, said Mr. lorns, the trade generally was perfectly friendly, and it was felt that the board could assist in many ways. SUPPLIES PROM CONTINENT. On the question of supplies of butter from the Continent, Mr. lorns said that nearly all countries were increasing the quantities which they were sending to Great Britain, the one exception being Siberia. The improvement in tho quality of the buter shipped from the Continent was most marked. The increased quantities from that quarter was due, of course, not only to larger output but to tariff walls being raised in other, countries, forcing export more or less to Great Britain. In connection with the manufacture of Cheddar cheese, Mr. lorns indicated that both Latvia and Finland were considering going in for the manufaeturo of full cream Cheddar cheese.