EXPORT OF DAIRY PRODUCE

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 292, 13 July 1917, Page 4

EXPORT OF DAIRY PRODUCE

The following letter lias been forwarded by Cr J. Henry, of l'atumahoe, to the Prime Minister (the Rt Hon W. F. Massey) as the outcome of the meeting of dairy supplieis held, as reported in our last issue, at Patumahoe on Friday last, viz : " I have the honour by direction of the annual meeting of Mauku milk suppliers of the New Zealand Dairy Association to forward you a copy of the following resolution moved by Mr Hay seconded by Mr Cantelin aiid passed unanimously ' That this annual meeting of milk and cream producers of the Mauku district and suppliers of the New Zealand Dairy Association ask the Chairman of this meeting to write to our representative the Prime Minister urging him to use his best tfforts to secure the transport of our stocks of butter held in cold store to the Home markets at the earliest possible moment and also to assist wherever possible in securing refrigerant space for the coming season's production.' During the past year it appears to us that the butter produceis have not been fairly treated in allotment of space in the cargo steamers carrying perishable produce from the Dominion. The large meat companies have had the preference in mutton and lamb although neither of these meats go to feed our troops at the Front; also an extra allowance of five per cent of all available space for perishable produce has been allotted to meat offal; whereas.a seven per cent to butter would have cleared our total available export. This meeting desires to respectfully point out the grave consequences to the Dominion, and to the dairy farmers particularly, who represent a large section of the community, if for the want of means of export the butter industry should have to cease. We also ask that in the matter of clearance for butter and other perishable produce you will endeavour to see that the port of Auckland is treated on a par with other shipping ports in the Dominion. In connection with the resolution mentioned I was asked to point out that the dates of clearance for Auckland and Wellington are respectively as follows : Auckland, January 19th ; Wellington, February 28th—a clear forty days in favour of Wellington. Further as the majority of butter producers of the Auckland province are struggling farmers, many of them men opening up the backblocks of the couutry, any holding up of our butter production will greatly disturb the business of the country and ruin these settlers of the backblocks."