DAIRY PRODUCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 May 1922, Page 7

DAIRY PRODUCE.

THE PROPOSED POOL. SUPPORT FOR THE SCHEME. Our Wai-toi-toi-Urenui correspondent writes:— In addition to the probable amount of bonus to be paid out this season, one of the most-discussed subjects amongst dairymen at present is the proposed dairy produce pool. Both the meetings at Hawera and New Plymouth were attended by directors from the various -factories in this district, and the consensus of opinion seems to be that the movement is one which promises to supply a remedy for the unsatisfactory position in the disposal of our dairy produce, which has arisen since the Imperial commandeer has been discontinued.

The few opponents to the pool at New Plymouth seem to have had their objections satisfactorily answered, and as the scheme does not aim to break entirely away from Tooley Street, but rather to enable the producer to receive a fairer share of the price which seems to be paid by the consumers of both cheese and butter, this opposition should be to a certain extent removed. In any case, an impartial observer would surely be inclined to give consideration to information on the matter by a gentleman of the experience of Mr. Good-fellow, who has had the advantage of spending a considerable period in Tooley Street, and had the opportunity of observing the inner workings of the market in which our produce is disposed of and which are evidently not to our best advantage. Without questioning the honesty of the wholesale firms there is not the slightest doubt that in some cases the business methods adopted in the disposal of our produce are far from satisfactory from the consignee’s point of, view. That this is so, is proved by the statement of a representative of one of leading houses in England to the effect that the practice is not uncommon of firms to whom produce has been consigned, disposing of cheese or butter to their own agents on a falling market, and then re-selling when prices rise. Then again, many of these firms buy on their own account, and also act as consignees for factories in the Dominion, and with the market up and down like a shuttlecock, it is not hard to imagine how the different lines would be disposed of. If the proposed pool can obviate these and many other disadvantages, such as irregular shipping. etc., then it is worthy of support, and may be the means of marking a new era in the dairying industry of New Zealand. The outcome of the scheme will be wa/tched with interest by the dairying community, whilst the advocates of the system of consigning

should be absolutely sure that our produce is being marketed to the beet possible advantage before condemning the proposal now under consideration.