OUR BUTTER AT HOME.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8161, 20 July 1906, Page 2

OUR BUTTER AT HOME.

MORE SUPERVISION WANTED. APPOINTMENT OF AN AGENT. The conference held at Stratford on Thursday to consider tho proposal to appoint a representative to watch the interests of our dairy produce on tho English market was very largely attended. The meeting was convened by the National Dairy Association, and Mr J. B. Foreman, President of the Association, presided, Tho delegates were welcomed to Stralford by the Mayor of Stratford, Mr N. J. who invited those present to inspect tho Technical School, abattoirs, and other institutions. Some discussion was caused by the action of tho Exooutive in asking Press representatives to retire from the room, and, on a vote beiag taken the reporters wore allowed to report proI oeedings, Tho following delegates of dairy companies wore present: Normanby, Messrs Gano and J, B. Barrow | Mangorei, Messrs A. Morton and Bocock; Maugatokii Messrs J. Marx and D. L. A. Hatbury, Eltham, Messrs Jas. Boddie and T. 0. Hodgson j Moa (Inglewood), Mr Pcroival; Lepperton, Mr Peroival j Stratford, Messrs Dingle and Walters; Oakura, Mr G, A. Adiam; Hillsborough, MrGreenway; Waitui, Mr Sattlei'j Hawera, Messrs Spratt and White i Kakaramea, Mr Gibb j Midhirst, ,Mr Brown ; Pnniwhakau, Mr Hamblyn; Cardiff, Messrs Richards and Belcher ; Kaupokonui, Messrs J. Borrie and Barleyman; Ngairo, Messrs J. McDonald and W. Morrison j Warea, Messrs Burgess and Bailey; Waverley, Messrs Peat and Johnston ; Awatuna, Mr Norris; Okaiawa, Mr Joll j Lowgirth, Mr Corbett; Kaponga, Messrß M. Fitzgerald and J. o'Sullivan j Huiakama, Mr T. H. Penn. The Chairman moved that the meeting affirm the principle contained in the resolution of the National Dairy Association passed at the recent meetinn; in Palmerston North. |[His re.narks oa the soheme were made before reportors were admitted to the room.] Mr Gaine (Normanby) seconded. He did not think such a man could cure all tho evils, The consignees at Home could sond what price they liked, but what they wanted to know was what became of our butter, and whether there was truth in the statement that butter was " faked" and then sold in New Zealand boxes as New Zealand produce. They were creditably informed that there was a good demand for the New Zealand article, and in order to keep it pure some such course as this should be adopted. Mr Boddie wanted further information from those who had closely studied the matter- The meeting wanted a few plain facts as to why the resolution should be adopted. The Chairman said there was often discontent with the way our butter was handled at Home. Of course little was heard of this now when buyers were anxious to pay IOJd a lb for the butter. They wanted some one to tell which were the reliable English firmj, and the produoers wanted some control over the butter after it was shipped. People who had gone Home had found difficulty in buying New Zealand butter under its own brand. Tt would bo impossible, of course, for one man to follow every box of New Zoaland butter, but such a man, if honest, conscientious, and industrious, could be of great value to the colonial producor, even if he were paid on a comparatively munificent scale. His own shareholders (Tikorangi), making 100 tous of butter a year, wore prepared to contributo £25 per annum. If there were a live man at Home ho must be of use The day would come again—he hoped it was far distant—when good prices would not be offering by buyers' agents, aud the factorios must consign and take their chanco on the English market. Then they would lind the benefit of having their own representative at Home. Mr T. L. Joll (Okaiaira) said he was anxious to see this scheme adopted, though lie was not ' after the billet.' (Laughter.) He and his brother had sent a man Home sixteen years ago in connection with the butter industry when dairy butter was such a drug in the market. In thoso days "dairy" brought 120s a cwt-i they had never got that since, even for factory bu.ter. Whether selling or consigning the factories needed a man at Home to adviso as to the stato of the markets, instead of trusting to buyers' agents. If there were waste, or trouble, about any shipment, there would be a man on the spot to investigate and report. He had been told that the payment of 5s on each ton of butter made was 100 much, but they must remember that all factorios would not join in with the scheme at present. Mr Boddie asked how this representative would gain the necessary information.

Mr Joll said the man must uso tact. He must not "get swelled head" but work quietly. Mr 14. Dingle (Stratford) said that he was only present to glean information to be laid before his co-direc-tors. He had no power to vote. Mr Burgess (Warea) said his directors were strongly in favour of the scheme, but preferred to leave the matter to their shareholders. Mr Marx (Mangatoki) said the two previous speakers were unfortunately situatod. He had power to act. (Applause). Tho salary of £IOOO a year as proposed was not enough to pay the agent's salary, office and travelling expenses. Tho whole thing >vas an experiment— j

A voice: So was co operation. Mr Marx continued that the expenditure of three-pence a cwt. on appointing an agent should bo settled by tho directors. They should not be afraid of a little expense like this. The Chairman considered Mr Joll's estimate of £6OO a year for travelling expenses was too high. He mentioned one of the North Island firms consigned the major portion of their butter through a large English firm, and the smaller quantity through a smaller firm. The latter secured tho better prices for the soason, and the difference was about 4s > a cwt. He would limit the contribution from factories to os on each ton of butter manufactured,

Mr Astbury said tliat there must at sumo lime have been a similar position in the meat industry, for tlic South [sland meat companies sent Mr Thos. Me ICenzio lwmc. That gentleman had reported that lie had been " out of court" except by mixing with people of influence. Meat companies now trusted entirely ta tho Home market and to open competition. The speaker considered the keen competition for our butter WHS the only safeguard to the producer in getting full market value. And he took it that tlje steady, ouward march of our prices proved we were ge't'ug that top value. The New Zealand dairy industry was now established, and New Zealand was becoming a formidable competitor in the English markets. She would soon take her place side by side with Denmark in the matter of price, Mr Astbury said his board of directors was not greatly in favor of the schemo, but were prepared to spend a littlo money on experimenting.

Mr T. 0. Hodgson (Eltham) said Mr Gwilliin hud found the Eltham butter sold wholesale as New Zealand butter. But over the retail counter it was only " priinc" butter. He thought that some time must, elapse before any great benefit eould come, for the channels of information would bo closed to him. Eltham had sold for many years until last season when the produce was consigned, and tho season had giycu no improvement. He considered the appointment of a man was a step in the right direction. Some difficulty was at this stage experienced as to the method of of arriving at a decision, several delegates appearing anxious to see " how the cat jumped" in other quarters The motion was put, and carried, several refraining from voting, After the luncheon adjournment, Mr Boddie moved that delegates bo asked to indicate whether or not they wero prepared to support the scheme, and the maximum amount that their companies would coalributo towards its maintenance,

M> Mux soconded, and the motion wa* carried without dissent Mr Marx moved that the maximum contribution be 2s 6d for each ton of butter. If tho thing was going to be a success it would have to be carried out on that basis. His company would do no more.

A list was then compiled, which showed that the delegates represented an export of 6,608 tons of butter per annum, whioh taxod with a contribution of 2s Od per ton, would return £826 per annum. It was quite evident that the oost of maintaining the agent would bo far less than had been anticipated. Thore were several Taranaki factories unrepresented, and those had a total manufacture of ab)ut 1,500 tons. Besides these the compinies affilided ti :ho Atsociaiion extended all the way up the East Co ist, as far as Gisborue. and throughout the Wellington provincial district. Doubtless those companies would join in. The meeting decided that the agent's appointment should be for three years, as it would tako him some time to get into bis work thoroughly; also that the agent represent, or into est himself in, the factories contributing only. The Chairman asked the meeting to decide who should appoint the representative, and how the appointment should be made. There was considerable discussion on the means of appointment, Mr Marx moved, and Mr Bailey seoonded, that the appointment be made by the executive of the National Dairy Association, or such members of it as represent contributing companies. Mr Barleyman moved, and Mr Brown soconded an amendment that before making an appointment the names of applicants be submitted to directorates of the contributing companies Mr Barleyman mentioned that the affiliated companies had hardly approved of some shipping arrangements made by the executive of the National Dairy Association. Several speakers objected, on the ground of the time that would be taken up by such a method.

Only four delegates voted for the amendment, and the motion was carried. The Chairman; on behalf of the Association, thanked delegates for their attendance, and noted that factory people attended their meetings much better now than a fow years ago. This showed that the feeling of co-operation was growing, and its value was being fully appreciated. He pointed the moral that " unity is strength," and said he was pleased to see its practical phase gaining ground. He asked that those concerns that had not yet contributed to the scheme should lose no tme in doing so. A hearty vote of thanks to thj Chairman was oarried by acclammation.