CONFERENCE OF DAIRYMEN.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 June 1920, Page 7

CONFERENCE OF DAIRYMEN.

ANNUAL MEETING OP NATIONAL ASSOCIATION. , REVIEW OF THE INDUSTRY. DECLINE IN BUTTER EXPORTS. (From Our Special Reporter.) Palmerston North, June 22. The twenty-sixth annual meeting of the National Dairy Association of New Zealand was commenced here this morning in the A. and P. buildings. The president (Mr. A. Morton) was in the chair, and there was a very large attendance of, delegates. In moving the adoption of the annual report and balance-sheet—a precis of which has already been published—the chairman expressed pleasure at the fact that Mr. Ellison (the association's London representative) was in attendance at the meeting. Reviewing the industry, he said that the season just gone through was somewhat exceptional on account of the almost entire absence of spring-like conditions. Consequently the output of the factories for the spring season was unusually low. The autumn omput, however, largely made up for this deficiency. Tiie season itself was a somewhat favorable one so far>as quality was concerned, the absence of close, muggy weather being a feature. No serious complaints had been received with'regard to the quality of their produce upon its receipt in London. As to cheese, however, the opinion had gained ground that in official circles that this commodity should be retained in cool storage for at loaßt six weeks before being exported from the Dominion. People in New Zealand liked a fresh, new cheese, but at Home a well-matured article was preferred. Any delay in forward consignments from' Stew Zealand had tended to improve the cheese in the eyes of British buyers. In official circles tho matter was being very seriously discussed, and it was possible that before long the cheese factories would be approached with a suggestion along the lines indicated. BUTTER v. CHEESE. There had been an enormous increase In the quantity of cheese shipped and a reduction in the quantity of butter. The difference was accounted for through the considerable increase in the number of butter factories that !iad been converted into cheese factories. Tiie dairy farmers, wherever possible, had gone over to cheese. This tendency was, he was convinced, due to the fact that cheese represented a better monetary investment than butter. He was perfectly satisfied that the price received for butter did not pay some factories, and that in many cases the prices received represented no profit. There were a number of communities who on account of lack of roading and transport facilities could j not make cheese. It was not in their [ interest and the interests of the Dominion as a whole that this difference m values in favor of cheese should be maintained. The butter producers had had no encouragement to go in for increased production. There had been a very considerable improvement in shipping conditions, and there was every indication that this would, be maintained. The space in the cool stores had been entirelv adequate except in the Auckland district. During the year very distintc progress had been made in the matter of freezing and cool storage by the acquisition in Wellington and Hawke's Bay provincial districts, of the interests of the Wellington Meat Export Co., Ltd., antt it was proposed to build new and. extensive work convenient to the wharves. It was p. distinct advance. There were now only two ports of the Dominion—CanI terbury and Southland—where the dairy companies themselves did not have their own freezing and cool storage accommodation. The position of those factories supplying butter to the local market was referred to by the chairman. Ho said that as n result of the activities set afoot by the association the principle had been established by the Government that if there was to be any price fixing in the future affecting dairy companies they were entitled to receive from the whole community the difference between the local fixed price and the export price. There was a possibility, incidentally, of a refund of the butter-fat levy being obtained from the Government. INCIDENCE OF BY-PRODUCTS. Touching on investigation work the chairman said that a great deal had been accomplished during the year. Delegates had visited America," England, and the Continent/and as a result of their observations a very large amount of information had been made available. Unfortunately things had been so unsettled in the labor market that the companies hesitated to go in for the manufacture of by-products until they were absolutely assured of a permanent supply of coal. In the Waikato district there'had heen a considerable development in connection with the manufacture of milk powder. So far nothing had been achieved in connection with the attempt to establish a co-operative casein company. There was not sufficient cohesion between the co-operative factories to bring the matter to a head. If it turned out this season that butter offered a better investment than cheese, he believed that some of the larger factories, which in that case would go over to butter, would go in for the manufacture of casein on their own account. Never in the history of the industry was there a greater need than at present for effective co-operation on the part of companies in connection with the handling of byproducts. It was only by having the best organisation that they would get the best results. The chairman referred to the fact that by reason of the executive's protests, made through tho Prime Minister anrl the association's London representative, the attempt on the part of the importers in London to obtain a charter eoneeding to them the exclusive right to handle all butter and cheese imports, had definitely failed. In conclusion he paid a tribute to the work of the staff and the association's London representative (Mr. Ellison). Mi\ Buclinnan said it must be admitted that the last sale.of butter was a fiasco, and they had themselves to Maine. All resented the action of the Government in placing them in the same position or worse than foreigners, and they should bad; up Sir Thomas Mackenzie in the fighting speech lie had made protesting against the unequal treatment meted out to New Zealand. Mr. Corrigan understood that previously the Government would not take the butter without the cheese, and this time he thought that if they were'determined to i iiVo thn buH»r they fhnnld be compelled to take the cheese at a 1 marketable priw.

The report and balance-sheet were 1 then adopted,,ELECTION OF DIRECTORS. The election for the three vacancies on the directorate was declared as follows: Taranaki, Mr. W, D. Powdrell, re-elected unopposed; Auckland, Hon. J. B. Gow (re-elected); Wellington, Mr. J. D. Brown (re-elected). Mr. J. D. Monteitb. was re-elected auditor. TRAVELLING EXPENSES. In accordance with notice of motion, |Mr. Hussey (Piri Piri) moved that the travelling expenses of delegates to all meetings of the Association be paid by the Association. Mr. Davis (Hawera) seconded. Mr. J. B. Corrigan (Hawera) pointed out that each factory at present paid or should pay its representatives' ex> perlses. Mr. Powdrell thought that factories should have sufficient interest to send a delegate. The chairman said the Association had no machinery that could compel factories to pay a levy. The proposal would cost the Association over £IOOO per annum, The proposal was lost.