NATIONAL DAIRY ASSOCIATION

Taranaki Daily News, 23 June 1917, Page 3

NATIONAL DAIRY ASSOCIATION

TWENTY-THIRD ANNUAL MEETING. The twenty-third annual mectino- of tile National Dairv Association was held at Pnlmerston North show grounds on Wednesday. Mr. A .Morton (president) presided, and there were present: Messrs A. Macfarlanr. (Fahiatua). W. Fisher (Carterton), T. Bassett (Northern Wairoa), H. D. Forsyth (Eltham), W. D. Fowdrell (Kaiipokonni). E. Allen (Cambridge), members of the executive, and •about 100 representatives of the dairy factory companies, including the. following Tarnnaki ones:.—Awatuna, Alton Ararata, Bell Block, Cardiff, Cape E"-' mont, Eltham. Hawera, .Toll's. Kaponga, Kaupokomii, Kaimata, Lowgarth, Mere Mere, Mangorei, Midhirst. Mangatoki, Maketawa, Mamitahi, Ngaere,/ Omata, Opunake. Oaonni, Patua/Riverdale and' Warea, Bray Bros., J. J. Lonsdale and Co:, and H. D. Lovell.

CHAIRMAN'S ADDRESS. In moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet, already published, the chairman sakl tlicy had every reason to congratulate themselves on the progress of the industry during the past year. It would not have been surprising if the production decreased or the quality of the produce deteriorated, in the face of the difficulties encountered, whereas there had been increased production, and the standard of the produce had been maintained. Dealing first with the production, he pointed out the stead" growth there had been in the industry during the past twenty years. In 1 Still New Zealand exported' butter valued nt £281,000, and cheese valued at £l3O 000, a total of £410.882. Now numerous individual companies exported more. For the year ending April 30 butter oxnorts were valued at £2,807,000 and choose at £3,420,000. If they added to tliis the value of the butter in store. £700.000. and the local consumption of butter and cheese, £1,300,000, it brought the value of the industry up to £8.500.000. AVhile some of the increase was due to advanced prices, there had also been a steady increase in volume, more particuar y m cheese. The production last voar had been affected by climatic conditions Never before had there been such an unusual range of climatic conditions. Usually Auckland was much drier than Taranalci, but last season Auckland was very wet, and there was a good growth of grass and increased yield. In Taranaki, Wairarapa and Manawatti the season was very dry, and the vield decreased. Regarding quality, he said the standard had been maintained. No complaints had been received except in r». gard to some parcels of cheese that had become overheated. This, however, was not the fault of the makers, but because of the congestion of shipping, nlld the lack of storage it had been found necessary to store where there were not proper facilities. On the whole the standard had proved equal to that at any time prwr to the war. Tie. however had previously noted that when values «'ere high complaints were fewer than when the values were low He then dealt will, the question of transport reported elsewhere, and also with the necessity for the provision of extra storage. For the past two years he had urged tho.t an endeavor should he made to provide adequate storage so ™ to meet any possible shortage' of shipping, which bad been foreseen since the outbreak ,of war. Some districts had done so. hut it was found necessary to provide additional storage. He thought that it would be impossible to obtain machinery to equip new works, so that the only way to provide storage would be to enlarge works that had surplus power. Unless there was relief in the matter of transport, it was imperative that other means of storaie should be found. Representations and suggestions had been made to the Government, which had referred them to a board of Government officers, who were awaiting information before they reportetd. He outlined the negotiations in regard to the sale of cheese to the Government. He pointed out that the price to be paid for cheese shipped prior to ,Tanunr v 16, the date on which it was sold to the Government, was not yet settled, and until this were definitely known it would not be possible for factories to make up their balance-sheets. He also outlined the Government's action in connection with the butterfat levy. They bad been told that (lie levy would cease at the end of June, and' it therefore followed that the fixing of a maximum price would cease, unless other means were adopted to adjust the difference between the maximum price paid and the export value of the produce. The question of the tax had been given every consideration by those interested. An advisory committee had been set \ip, and its legality tested. A petition was now being circulated for redress aaainsfc what was believed to be an injustice to the industry. He suggested that when* it was presented, a deputation should visit Wellington, to urge members to support it,

NEXT YEAR'S OUTPUT. The question that loomed largest was, of course, that of shipping. The next important question was what was going to become of next year's output? Regarding cheese, there was reason to assume that the Government would purchase the output, and in that connection no doubt strenuous efforts would be made to see that they got a better deal than last season. When they sold their cheese to the Imperial Government they were informed that Canada would receive the same treatment. La lor lipfound that Canada had received n hitV er price and they wished to know why. After the distinct understanding that all would be treated by the same basis. They also wanted to know, if the Imperial Government did not purchase their output and they were unable to get ships, whether the Government would give them financial assistance, liecause the farmer must receive monthly cheques if he was to carry on, however small they might be. The question of finance as against the butter held in store had also to be considered, and it was hoped to be able to impress on' the Government the necessity of assisting them to some extent in finance. THE LABOR QUESTION. The. labor question was another important one, After two more ballots the first division would be exhausted, and when the second division was drawn on the position would become acute, not only from the producing point of view, but also from the manufacturing. He thought he kopt well within bounds when he estimated that fully three-fourths of their managers belonged to (he second division, and if food production was not looked upon as essential, and the call for men came first, the position would become one of great difficulty. The position, ton. would be accentuated because at, present, owing to the prospects for ghipiv,'.. c 'n'ing'bettpi' for cheese, a number of batter factories in Taranaki—and he summed the same anplied elsewhere

—had already decided to change to cheese. There would probablv be "a limit to the number, because there would be a limit to the equipment that would be available, but it would mean that more skilled labor would be required by present cheese factories. At one time the Finance Minister pronounced tlir.t food production was more essential, and at another time men. Representations on all these matter's would be Made to the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, as soon as they returned, because though to some extent they were acquainted with the position, it was impossible, owing to their long absence from the Dominion, that they could be accurately posted with the present condition of the industry. WHITE PINE TIMBER Another pertinent ouestion was the need for the conservation of white p«e. This was being exported in large quantities Australia, and in the course of a very few years none would be available for the manufacture of butter boxes and cheese crates here. In the past, representations had been made to the Government without effect, but h was hoped to make more effective representations.

THE BALANCE-SHEET. Referring to tho halanee-sheet. he said that members should be proud of the position, and satisfied with the year's work. Tho balance-sheet was the best •issued, the association having received the support of members, whose numbers had increased from 10!) to 231. The actual turnover was ;Clf>o.ooo. The association had received gratifying support, but it would be more useful still if it received stronger support. He referred to the advantages of the London oflice. and stated that in 1(103 the association had a staff of two; it now had a staff of 12. Mr. ~o'Hara seconded. NEED FOR EXTRA STORAGE. Mr. J. B. Marx (Mangatoki) referred to the need for additional storage, and ■said that with neighboring factories he md come down and did not wish to leave without taking some concerted action to arrange for additional storage He suggested that a mooting should he lield to discuss the matter. His own company was prepared to spend a few thousands locally, but he would prefer something , done so that their produce could be graded and recognised financially. Last year, with a number of ships early in the season, and clear stores to start with, there was congestion. What would be the position next year when they could not expect the same number of ships and when, moreover, the works were not clear to start with? Some. thing should be done at once. At present they only had, storage capacity for one quarter of the. year's supply. Even if it cost £200,000 to'supply the "necessary •lorngc. it, would be money well spent, as it might mean the saving of produce valued at C 3,000,000.

Mr. Nathan said that the Imperial Government could not give any assurance, as they did not know what innovations there might be in submarining. The matter, he considered, was too important, to continue talking about, but thev should get up and do something. If the British Government could not make provision for them to enable them to obtain the machinery, what was to .prevent it being manufactured in the Dominion, if patents were involved under royalty? He suggested (hat they should endeavor to, obtain the machinery from England; /failing that, from America. ■Then, if it could not. be manufactured in the Dominion, the Government should be asked to stop the slaughtering of ewes and lambs, which would allow more •freezing room for butter, whilst for ■cheese other provision would have to be 'made.

Mr. S. Turner (Lonsdale and Co.) pointed out, that if the companies had no storage space and no transport they would have to ask the Government to finance them, and so would probably have to accept a lower price when they •storage room was available their usual •agents could finance them until the companies were able to sell.

Mr. Marx stated that, he would bring •tho matter forward later,

THE CONSIGNED CHEESE. Some discussion took plate over the 'Way in settling for the cheese token by the Government that had been shippod prior to January Hi. the date on which the Government had purchased the cheese. Representatives stated that they had instructed their agents not to accept Oj/od, but to ask for the market price that was ruling when the produce was taken, it being considered that the Board of Trade had no power to commandeer without, paying market price. It was stated that an action at lawwas pending-over the matter in England. ° THE LABOR QUESTION. ' The president stated that it appeared to be very little use appealing to the Defence Minister in regard to assistants in cheese factories. The. matter woidd be placed beforo the Prime Minister at an early date. After a little further discussion re- j garding factories who have not given the company promissory notes as arranged for financial purposes, the report was adopted. | In addition to three Taranaki directors ; retiring, the chairman pointed out that j through an oversight the report omitted j to state that the two Auckland repre- I sentatives were also retiring. The re- ! tiring directors, Messrs A. Morton, W. .1). Powdrell and H. J., Forsyth (Taranaki), and T. Bassett and* E. Allen (Auckland), were re-elected unopposed, i On the motion of Messrs ,T. B. Marx ' (Mansatoki) and J. B. Murdoch (T. L. •loll) it was unanimously agreed to vote the directors the usual honorarium of £2O, and the chairman's honorarium ■was increased from £SO to £IOO. Mr. C. D. Morpeth (Wellington) was te-elected auditor, at a fee of 30 guineas (an increase of 5 guineas). ENLARGING THE DIRECTORATE. Mr. Cotter (Masterton) moved that tho number of directors be increased from seven to eleven. Mr. J. S. Connett (Bell Block) moved, as an amendment, that the directorate be increased to o—-three, from Auckland, Taranaki, and Wellington-Hawkes Bay. The members to be elected for three years by factories in their own district, and one to retire from each district eaoh year. The mover pointed out that there were many companies that had not joined the association underVsome feeling of dissatisfaction, and his proposal would tend to infuse more interest in the association. The infusion of new blood occasionally would probably be of benefit, though he recognised that the present members were good men. Members.saw trouble over the voting, but it was pointed out by the mover and others that a postal ballot would be taken. Further discussion followed, ten being favored by some, whilst others advocated 11 strongly. Mr. Cornell's amendment was divided into two sections and carried. Mr. Forsyth raised the point of order that the method of election could not be altered without notice of motion. The president upheld this, and Mr. Connett then gave notice to move the resolution at next year's meeting. r SIZE OF CHEESE CRATES. A resolution was passed in the direction of altering standard size of cheese •case so as to contain only one cheese, ; with a view to the utilisation of waste ' timber. Mr. Murdock, chairman of the j Box Company, estimated that if this were passed they could make 8 per cent, more crates with the timber now wasted. I The chairman did not think there would be any difficulty with the Govern- I meut, who, yylien, first dealing with the}

producer, wanted cheese packed in single crates, as it was sent to the front in that way. It, would, moreover, permit of stronger packing, and would ' > easier to handle. A sample had been submitted to the shipping companies for their approval, but no reply had yet been received. CONSERVING WHITE PINE. A lengthy discussion took place on the urgent need for conserving white pino in New Zealand, and resolutions were passed in this direction. BUTTER-FAT LEVY. The chairman introduced the butterfat levy, which had a place on the order paper. They wanted it done away with, and the money already paid refunded. The whole thing had been so often discussed that there was no need to discuss it. No action was taken. The question of recommending dairy factories to fix a uniform price for butter in stoVe| when making up their ba-lance-sheets, was brought forward, but a resolution to that eft'eet was lost. |