CHEESE FOR SOLDIERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 September 1915, Page 4

CHEESE FOR SOLDIERS.

The meeting of directors of Taranaki cheese factories, held at Hawera on Thursday, should bring home to us the important part that New Zealand is taking in war matters, apart from her expeditionary forces and reinforcements, Already the beef df the dominion has been commandeered for supplying the Imperial forces, and now the Dominion Government is asking the cheese producers to consider the question of selling a portion of the cheese output to the Imperial Government for the use of the British Army, and it was to consider that proposal the directors of cheese factories met at Hawera on Thursday. That the subject was deemed to be of great importanse was evidenced by the gathering being, probably, the largest muster of factory directors ever held in Taranaki. In explaining the object of the meeting, the chairman (Mr. A, Morton) stated that what the Imperial Government wanted to secure was a regular monthly supply of 1000 tons of cheese for the next six months at sixpence halfpenny per lb f.o.b. New Zealand, the War Office not to provide for shipping. The position of matters relating to the price of cheese for the season is that most of the factories have decided to ship on consignment. In fact, up till a week ago the Home buyers had made no definite offer, but it is known that on the day of the meeting above referred to more than one factoryreceived an offer of sevenpence and threesixteenths, so it may be assumed that the average price for the coming season may vary from sevenpence to sevenpence halfpenny—from one halfpenny to a penny above the price offered by the Imperial authorities, though one of the buyers stated that the present market price was just under sevenpence. It was only, natural that Taranaki should have been selected as the district to give a lead to the rest of the factory directors in the dominion on this very important matter, for, as the Dairy Commissioner pointed out, Taranaki is the largest cheese producing province in New Zealand. .The fulfilling of the request would absorlir from sixteen to twenty per cent, of the dominion's output. The trend of the discussion which took plac; at the meeting was naturally as to the price, the proposal being regarded purely in a business light. There seemed to be a general opinion that the offer was not high enough, but Mr. Harkness, the secretary of the National Dairy Association, very wisely emphasised the fact that the Home Government was not going to pay- any more fabulous prices, and that if, say, eightpence per lb was asked for, cheese would be cut out of the rations, and then its price would not reach sixpence. The soundness of thit. argument is irrefutable. If the Imperial Government buys at a fair price then the cheese market will rise, whereas if they cut out cheese there is bound to be a weak and unfavorable tone throughout the season, and possibly a glut. It is not the wish of the Home Government to cause any loss to the New Zealand cheese suppliers, but it may reasonably ej pect that at a time like the present the farmers should help and not hinder those who have the colossal task of feeding the forces of the Empire, It was in this spirit that the question was ultimately settled by resolving to request lit.: Government to commandeer twenty per cent, of the New Zealand output of cheese at sevenpence per lb at the grading stores. The decision is one that does credit to the directors concerned, for, although it is a halfpenny above the price offered, it is a fair and reasonable solution of the question, and one that might reasonably be accepted by the Imperial Government.