N.Z. DAIRY BOARD

Hokitika Guardian, 4 December 1930, Page 3

N.Z. DAIRY BOARD

SAVING OF £1,050 YEARLY

ll»y leiegrapD—Breee Ateixtation )

WELLINGTON,. December 3

A ' to reduce its honoraria by 20 per cent, and the Salaries of its staffs in both New Zealand and London by 12J per cent, was reached by the New Zealand Dairy Board at its meeting to-day. Hitherto the honorariums of the members have been £250 per annum each, and that of the Chairman £750 per annum. The sum of £7OO will therefore be saved by the reduction, which is to be effective from February Ist next.

In the case of the salaries, the sum of £7,830 is involved, that being the figure covering the Head Office and the London l expenses for the Board’s last financial year. The 12-J- per cent, reduction will therefore mean a saving of approximately £950. ... in agreeing to the reduction, . the •Board took the view -that it was in- • cumbent on it as the head of the daily • industry, to give a lead towards economy in veiw of the present market. „v position, of primary produce. " ",i The Chairman, Mr lorns said that he was sorry, from the point of view of the staff,* that it was necessary to takethei attitude, but, in the face of the circumstances, it was essential that everybody should economise. The position of ■ the whole of the Board’s staff had been gone into carefully, and he could not see where any reduction in its numbers could be made. The industry could rely upon the Board facing the situation with due regard for j economy. k several letters were received from. dairy companies .. stressing the need of economy at the present juncture, and making the suggestion tha tthe levy upon the export produce should he reduced, or suspended, at this juncture. ■ On this point, Mr Irons said lie would stress- that the Board had entered into commitments which could not he varied. As a matter of fact, the sum derived from the present levy was not sufficient to meet the current commitments* and the Board was drawing upon the reserves which had J accumulated during the period before ' the levy was. reduced, by half, to its ' present’ position. The advertising in Britain was being continued at the rate of £15,000 per annum, this being a very necessary expenditure to maintain the sale of New Zealand dairy produce. In addition a sum of approximately r £4OOO was being devoted to necessary

scientific research into various dairying problems. It was also pointed out that the contribution of the average exporter of 50001 bs of butter-fat to the Board was only 15s 7d per annum. Opportunity was also taken in connection with the discussion on economy to correct a report emanating from Taranaki to the effect that the expense of the recent visit of the Chairman to London had amounted to over £I4OO. B was pointed out that the full cost to the industry did not exceed £7OOO, including the fares. The Chairman had kept his expenses flown to a minimum, and had done much entertainment at his own expense. As a matter of fact, his personal expenses exceeded the sum charged to the Board by £250. His railway travelling expenses in Britain were under £25, although he had visited the northern industrial areas and Scotland two or three times.