DAIRY COMPANIES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 223, 20 August 1937, Page 9

DAIRY COMPANIES

MANAWATU ASSOCIATION. THE ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Manawatu and West Coast Hairy Companies’ Association was held yesterday, Mr S. A. Broadbelt (Levin) presiding. There were also in attendance: —Messrs S. E. Algar (Taikorea), J. Boyce (Glen Oroua), J. It. Whyte (Tokomaru), It. M. White (Mangawhata), It. Craig (Oroua Downs), H. T. Couper (Rangi-wiahia-lluahine), G. H. Stiles (Shannon), J. Devine (Kairanga), W. . Purcell (Rangitikei), T. Haynes (Rangiotu) and P. Hansen (Awahuri). The chairman’s report was as follows: —“Last year disclosed still further activities for the committee, and many matters have had to be dealt With by them, amongst which I may mention the following.—Butter : The meetings in connection with the zoning efforts were all arranged by this association which arranged a uniform price for advances during the season. Correspondence with the Minister in connection with the Agricultural Workers Act took pluce, also considerable correspondence in’ connection with efforts to kilter the regulations in regard to butter boxes and cheese crates, also with the Dairy Board in an attempt to get a reduction in the levy and to see that it was properly applied in the interests of the industry. Cheese: Efforts have been made to see that cheese interests were assured more adequate representation at national conferences; that grading fees were used to cover grading costs only, and any balance was returned to the factories; that cheese factories received in fact the promised premium . oyer butter, and that this promise by the Government is honoured for the past season; that an adequate premium is allowed on waxed cheese next season. The matter of the time when the farm workers’ half-holi-day must be taken has also been taken up with the Government. Butter and cheese interests are equally represented on the executive and have worked harmoniously together in the interests of the industry as a whole.” The chairman congratulated the association on the amount of work carried out during the year, saying the association’s best efforts had been put forward to further the interests of the industry. The finances were in a good position, but he thought that the tipie had now arrived at which those serving the association should be re-imbursed for their out-of-pocket expenses. The speaker hoped that the guaranteed prices for butter and cheese would be announced very shortly. It yet remained to be seen' whether the increase (which he did not think would be much) would meet the increased costs on the farm and in the factory. The speaker touched on the local marketing organisation and remarked that he did not think it quite fair that companies in tire Auckland district supplying butter to the local market had been able to secure a higher return for their 6a.les than the Wellington district companies. The provision of butter boxes for the season had caused some trouble. A good development had been the extension of thejscheme for supplying milk to school children. Herd-testing was gaining in popularity and the pig marketing business was increasing also. There was no doubt that , the export ’business was the best avenue to follow. The bobby calf business was also increasing. The zoning of cream supply in this district had caused a good deal of worry, but it appeared that the supply had now been fixed for 12 months— JargeNy on the basis of the former arrangements’. Tiie speaker then moved tho adoption of the report and balancesheet. The motion was seconded by Mr Boyce. It wias pointed out that payments could not be made to those attending meetings on the income the association now had, and in a general discussion it was shown that there was opposition to any raising of the factories’ subscriptions. The motion was then passed. Messrs C. G. C. Dernier and R. G. Da.lziell were re-elected to the butter committee, those gentlemen having retired, and Messrs Boyce and Algar, the retiring members, of the cheese committee, were also re-elected. Mr E. B. Jennings was ro-appointed auditor, it being decided to forward him a letter of thanks for His services. WANED CHEESE.

Replying to representations that there should ha an adequate premium paid tor waxed cheese, Hon. W. Lee Martin advised tha-t in tlie fixation of prices for butter and cheese to apply lor the coming season, the premiums for coloured cheese and ior waxed cheese would he reviewed, the intention being that the premiums allowed should .adequately compensate dairy factory companies for the extra cost involved in those processes. —The letter was received. As the outcome of the chairman’s remarks that the price was Id a pound hotter to producers in the Auckland area (where there were no marketing restrictions) than in the Wellington district, it was decided to write to the Marketing Board asking what was the intention as to a suggestion that a packing house for patting butter in Wellington he established, and also drawing attention to the difference in prices in Auckland and Wellington. Mr White mentioned that cheese companies in the Auckland province had been able to pay more than others, say than in Taranaki and Wellington, and ho queried whether tha.t had been possible by their selling on the local market. Mr Devine pointed out that one cheese factory in the Horowhenua area had sold the season’s output in advance, locally, and had thus secured a better price. . , _ r It was decided to write to tfie Marketing Department pointing out that some factories producing cheese for the local market had paid .approximately Id more per pound of butterfat than those which had sold for shipment overseas, and asking that those factories returns be not taken into consideration when fixing the average price for cheese for the coming season. A vote of thanks was accorded the chairman for his past services and his honorarium was fixed at the same figure as last year. The chairman, in reply, congratulated the association on the work accomplished and said there was no organisation with which he was connected which gave him greater pleasure. Subsequently lie was re-elected chairman of the executive for a further term.