MAUKU

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 380, 31 May 1918, Page 4

MAUKU

MEETING OF DAIRY FARMERS

COMING SEASON'S PROSPECTS About thirty-five suppliers of the ] N.Z Dairy Association gathered at the West Mauku school last Friday evening to receive information relative to the prospects of the coming season and to settle what to manufacture from their hutterfat during 1918-19. Mr A. Franklin presided. The chairman, in introducing Mr W. F. Kirkman, of the Dairy Association, said that shareholders generally would regret to hear that Mr Pacey, the general manager, was unable to attend owing to illness. However, in Mr Kirkman they would find a very capable substitute. Mr Kirkman explained that the primary reason for the meeting was to discuss the question of the manufacture of cheese in lieu of butter making. A number of suppliers had asked for an estimate of the cost of establishing a cheese factory for the district. For a two vat factory, capable of dealing with the milk of GOO cows, the cost of building and plant would exceed £2OOO without any allowance for the purchase of land or residences for the employees. Cheese had not this year maintained the advantage over butter it had in the previous season. In 1915-1 cheese had returned 22 17d and butter 16 7.3d. In 191617 the figures had been cheese 19.238, butter 21.48 d. This season he had reason to believe that cheese would average about 21 d differing slightly according to the size and location of factories. The position of butter would, said Mr Kirkman, be better during the coming season than in this one. For this season the price fixed by arrangement with the Government was 1579, the Government and the producers dividing equally whatever the butter sold for in excess of this. It was impossible even to guess what would be available for distribution from this latter source until the returns arrived, but it should be something considerable. Foreign and Irish butter had reached as high as 400s in the English market, which called forth caustic comment on the part of the High Commissioner upon the different treatment meted out to Ireland and a loyal country like New Zealand. For the coming season the Australian and New Zealand delegates had agreed to demand 1765. They had also felt it would be better to endeavour to deal direct with the Imperial Government instead of using the Dominion Government as a gobetween. With regard to the shipping facilities the prospects appeared to him batter than they had been for the present season. They opened this year with 120,000 boxes of butter in store and by December had reached the maximum of their storage space, when a large shipment fortunately relieved the situation. The coming season they would commence with about half the quantity in store, i.e, about 60,000 boxes. The Prime Minister had rocently given an assurance that though the shipping position would bo difficult till August the situation after that month would be greatly eased. Taking everything into account he thought the prospects for getting their butter away were a good deal better than they had appeared at the beginning of the present season. In reply to a question Mr Kirkman said the amount paid by the Association by way of the equalising levy was £34,621. Of this amount they had received back as share of surplus payments £6545, leaving a nett contribution of £28,076. In reply to an enquiry regarding the manufacture of casein Mr Kirkman said the price and prospects of casein had greatly improved during the last eighteen months. Unfortunately it was not on the list for preference in shipping space, but had to take its chance as ordinary cargo. If its transit could be assured about 3d per lb more conld be given for hutterfat than at present. Mr C. Crispe moved, and Mr Davis seconded, that suppliers in the Mauku district should continue butter making during the coming season. This was agreed to with only one dissentient.

It was resolved to send a letter to Mr Pacey regretting his illness and expressing a hope for his speedy recovery. A hearty vote of thanks to Mr Kirkman for the clearness with which he had explained the situation was carried by acclamation. The Chairman stated he desired to take advantage of the presence of so many farmers to say a few words about the present position in regard to the price and supply of manures. Farmers' produce was commandeered at prices far below what could be obtained in a free market. They did not complain of that, but what they did complain of was that they wore left at the mercy of manufacturers and importers in regard to the supply of the manures which were essential to production. He felt that the Government ought long ago to have taken over the control of the manure market. He moved that the Government be urged to do so without delay, a copy of the resolution to be forwarded to the Minister for Agriculture, and also to the Executive of the Farmers' Union with a request that the present conference should take action in the matter. — Several present spoke to the motion complaining not only of the high price of manures, but of their adulteration, which was stated to lie more rampant than ever. Tho motion was carried unanimously.