The Daily News TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 1904. DAIRY EXPORT TRADE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 137, 14 June 1904, Page 2

The Daily News TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 1904. DAIRY EXPORT TRADE.

At the unnual meeting of the National Dairy Association at l'almerston North on the 21st Inst. two important proposals will be brought forward for discussion. The first Is a scheme for the better distribution on the Homo market of the dairy produce from New Zealand, and in litis connection it is suggested that the National Dairy Association should 'become the medium of exchange between buyer and seller; that the factory companies should be free to consign or to sell at a fixed price ; that In the case oi consignment the commission charged should not exceed 3| per cent, ; that in the case oJ sale through the association at a fixed price tho association should bo entitled to a rdbato of i per cent., and in the event of sale being made by the factory company direct the rebate to the association should be J per cent. ; that the asJ ifooiation should have tho right to inspect all books and accounts in connection with a consignment should this bo thought necessary ; that the association should invite offers from firms in Great Britain to do business on the lines mentioned ; and that tho association should establish Home system by which reliable information should lx: obtained periodically of tho probalble value of dairy produce, so as to advise factory owners. The second proposition is the erection of co-operative freezing works in Wellington, which we take to be more of local than general interest. With regard to the first proposal, it is contended by Mr Harkness, the secretary of the association, who is a gentleman whose opinion,cannot be lightly dismissed, that at present our butter gets into too many hands at iriomo, and the consequent anxiety to sell in the caso of a weak holder tends to keep tho price down. It is Instanced that a while ago whilst Australian butter was realising 88s to UOs New Zealand butter, a superior article, was only realising 86s to 88s>. To remedy this it is proposed to confine tho sale of our butter to two or three firms, instead of allowing it tq be spread broadcast amongst many firms a 9 at present. These views are not shared in by Mr Beattie, the ex-secretary of the association, who contends that tho greater the number of channels our produce gets into the better, and that any attempt to restrict tho sale of our produce will have Die effect of letting other competitors into the market, and thus defeating the end aimed at. The matter is a very difficult one to decide upon. Any scheme that will result in raising tho price of our dairy produce at Homo will, it is almost needless to Bay, lie welcome, but we very much doubt whether tho restriction of the sale to two or three firms would have that effect. New Zealand dairy produce is not much more than a cypher in the Home market, which is ruled by outside causes. The English market is independent of New Zealand dairy produce, and we are inclined to think that any attenpt to "corner" on our part would result disastrously. The treat "British Public" prefers cheapness to patriotism any day, and if the National Pairy Association thinks otherwise we fancy it has something to learn. There are so many caterers for the British market amongst countries that can make butter ami cheese as well as we can that it seems to us that the one that can give a fair article at the lowest pritc is most likely to come out on top. Is it better to sell produce and plenty of it at current rates or have a restricted salo at a fractional higher price 7 This is what the Dairy Association will have to discuss, as well as improved methods of distribution, in which latter no doubt there is room for amI endmcnt,. j