Storage of Produce.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 160, 11 July 1904, Page 2

Storage of Produce.

QUESTION OF CHARGES. tl'er Prsss Association.) WELLINGTON, July 8. A matter of considerable importance to tho dairy industry all over tlio colony was again brought under tho notice ol tho .Minister tar Agriculture thin afternoon by a deputation consisting of tho TurunaU members of Parliament. Air J minings uuid ho had received a letter from Mr J, W, Foreman (chairman of tho National Dairy Association; on the subject, llr Foreman wrote thai when in Palmeiston recently he liad received an intimation tliat it was not the intention of the Government after the present export season to continue the help hitherto given towards paying the freezing and storage charges on butter and cheese for export. Ho and his directors had interviewed tliei Minister for Agriculture on the subject, and urged a continuance of the subsidy. The Minister had stated that it was intended to divert the money now given towards freezing and storage into an experimental dairy station. Tho present time, M» Foreman contended, was not opportune for such n step to be taken in view of the present position of the industry,

The Hon. T, Kelly said the industry fully acknowledged the great help that the Government hud given towards protecting tho Industry, The market for the produce was London, where they had to compete Willi other countries without any protection from the tariff. Other industries in the colony were to a large extent protected by the tariff, but the dairy industry had no protection of that sort, except by way of bonus, and ho therefore urged the Government to carefully consider its decision in regard to the matter. There was a drop in the pike of dairy produce. He hoped that drop would not be penuunenl, but if tho Government had any intention of withdrawing the subsidy this was not tho time to do it. In time, ol course,' tho industry would have to stand alone, but in the meantime it wanted the help of tho Government to a. certain extent.

Mr E. M. Smith pointed out that the freezing works in Taranaki had just -been destroyed, and would have to be re-erected at a cost ol £IO,OOO, and, apart from that, he thought tho withdrawal of the subhudy would retard the industry and prevent people engaging in it. Tho Minister, replying to these und other similar representations, suid thai he wus in sympathy with the farmers. Tlie cause for the withdrawal or reduction of tho subwd> wus that while it was thought lust year that £BOOO would bo sullicieni it had really amounted to over £13,000. Besides that, he believed thuy would have to establish a dairy school lor which lio was making preparations. That school would havo! to hv thoroughly oquijipod, and that meant a heavy cost, wliilo at the prcs»nt rate the subsidy to tho industry would be £15,1100 or £IO,OOO. Ho would, however, bring ti, e views 01 tho deputation before the Cabinet and see wltethor the subtly could not be continued, at any rate, for this year, so that the dairy (armor would havo a whole your to prepare lor tho change. He himself thought that in view of Hie drop in prices it would not bo wise to discontinue the subsidy this year. Jl„ j llul uv uympathy with the industry, „,,„• would use every exertion to see that it was not neglected. He the sujswly would be continued for another year,