DAIRY PRODUCE CONTROL

Hokitika Guardian, 13 February 1925, Page 3

DAIRY PRODUCE CONTROL

WELLINGTON, February 9. The report of the overseas delegation of the New Zealand Dairy Produce Control Board was made available today. The delegates were Messrs AY. Grounds, J. R. Thacker and AY. C. Motion. The report is long, and contains much matter of only technical interest. It also deals with the competition with which New Zealand dairy produce has to contend British markets. The delegates hold that “AA'hatever the future may have in store in the creation of new markets it is clear that wc need at present to concentrate upon Great Britain. America will display an occasional demand. Germany too, with htr industrial re-establish-ment. will effect the general position by her increased demands. Inquiries are now being received for New Zealand butter from that quarter and arrangements have been made for a supply to he available.” References are made to the condition of produce on arrival, with the remark that there is plenty of room on the British market for the best but little room for inferior qualities. If the produce is shipped in good condition it will open up so. Criticisms are made by the delegates upon unsuitable packages used in. the export ol dairy produce, the use of preservatives, date branding, whey butter, . the .temperature at which cheese should he carried, loss of weight in cheese ship ped, and other technical subjects.

The delegates hold that the standardisation of all milk for cheese making is worthy of full and careful consideration. A page and a half ol the report are devoted to the reception of dairy produce in London and other ports and the system of taking buttei and cheese from ships’ holds to warehouses is described. Contrary to what they had been informed the delegates discovered that uninsulated barges were in use for the conveyance of produce from ships to waterside warehouses. There was ample provision Unsuitable cold storage available in Britain, as the delegates found when in London. Bristol, Afanchcstcr, Liverpool and Glasgow, and very satisfactory terms for storage could he arranged. If handled by the hoard it should he secured at an economic rate. “AVe cannot see that the position would be improved by erection ol a new store upon any site that would he available to the hoard," adds the delegation. DANISH RIVALRY. A very full account is given of the Danish system of disposing of dairy produce. The delegates report: “ AVe met the leaders ol dairy industry cooperation and finance, the heads of experimental stations, professors of dairying and export merchants. They are keenly alive to probable market difficulties. The main desire of their industry is the maintenance of reasonably stable prices at a profitable level. In this they recognise that our interests are similar, but they also recognise that in the last analysis the liltest must survive. No attempt to conceal our national rivalry would have been of any use even il we could have thought of such a course. They understand the rivalry, but also tecognise the advantage of frank consultations between representatives of the two interests. AVe review our conversations with them with satisfaction. AYe met men of high integrity and capacity and we led sure that reclining conversations between them and repicsentatives ol the hoard will he of advantage to both." Holland, Latvia, Finhind, Siberia and Argentine, as rival sources of supply, are fully considered and dealt with in the report.

AViili respect to Australia, a conference was called at Melbourne to meet the delegates, at which reproKiitatives were present Irom all States except AA'estern Australia. They wero all deeply interested in prospective marketing problems, having recently induced tin- Commonwealth Government to pass a Dairy Export ( onf.rol Act similar to that ol New Zealand. The only variations from lines laid down in the New Zealand Aft are (!) That each State elects ’ls own members; (2) factory dirv-Wt’tos are to he the voting unit in the election of members of the hoard, instead of individual dairy farmers; and (Ji the Government has made prov'si.in to finance these undertakings to the extent of £500,(100. At the conference, says tile delegation, “our in'T'i-is and experiences were eagerly ro'.lg'.ii, and the hope was expressed that, the Hint movement would he tulvaipigt.i.is to both countries.” Uinallv reviewing the wnole pi sit ion the ai legates reiterate th”ir opinion Vim! a period of fierce compitition is immediately ahead. Thee have 'm doubt that this can he suoccssiV-ly met hut the fullest production of high-o-i-ade quality must ho aimed at in every department. AVnstcful methods or anything contributing to low quality production must be cut out. In assist in this work, a well-oquippod laboratory is essential.

KST\BUS! IMENT OF A LONDON f OFFICE. * >• We think.” adds the delegation, 1 • ■ that the board should undertake the ’ responsibility of all sales and establish • u London office. A London coinmer- ' ci.il manager should be appointed and Uo very carefully-selected men should bo sent from New Zealand, one associated with butter and one with cheese, whose special duties would be to keep i„ touch with their respective hrnnehc;, u f industry, the condition of produce on arrival and maintenance of ~’,’ndes mid SO forth. Every sound firm or organisation wishing to serve ~s distributors of New Zealand piodiice should be given the opportunity oioviii” sales capacity. Proved sales ' capacity would then determine the measure of continued opportunity tor them. This method would provide much more real competition than anything that exists at present. London being the nerve centre o the nmrketing operations, the London office should be given the responsibility of collecting all data relating to marketing problems, which would include prodnotion and disposition in all other dairv countries.” The delegation recommends that a national brand be selected and that it he placed upon one end of each butter box ami cheese crate containing a first-grade product Tlv- factory’s brand should be placed „„ the other end. No cheese or hotter should be exported ... cases bearin., the national brand below fustgrade quality. All produce graded ninety-two points and over should ha e an additional superfine brand at the “national” end of the case It should be the aim of the 'ward.to hav both cheese and butter avatln be at all times of the year. The probable demand at different seasons could not prejudiced at this distance. They considered this course would certainly I increase consumption and improve New I Zealand’s position on the maike . tual quantities would need to be as-, massed bv the London management according ‘to changing circumstances. “With competition.” say the c „., tes “we forsee it will he quite futile to expect any stereotyped method will meet the necessities of the position Risks are involved in any decision hut greater risks lie for the industry in the continuance ot the present system.’ The delegates record their apprecni tion of the assistance given them by the High Commissioner and his staff.