THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 1913. MARKETING OF DAIRY PRODUCE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 7 June 1913, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 1913. MARKETING OF DAIRY PRODUCE.

For some'■yearg. past this paper lias been hammering a>vay at the butter and cheese producers of the 'Dominion, trying to impress -upon them the fact that tinder the present methods - ol distributing their produce they are losing thousands of pounds annually. It seems to us a most extraordinary, thng that farmers whq recognise the value of co-operation in the matter <r production should be so' s low to appreciate the value of co-operation in the matter of, shipping and distribution. What evidence have we that the present system of distribution. is unsatisfactory? We have the. evidence of men who have been upon the spot, of the fluctuations in market prices that are constantly recurring, and of the account sales that come to hand from time to time. These afford unmistakable proof that the dairy farmers of the Dominion are being unmercifully exploited. v It is satisfactory ftp note that both the North and South. Island Dairy Associations, which' represent tne" various companies doing business in New Zealand, are awakening to the fact that combined action is necessary to. put a stop to, the present leakage. At the annual meeting this week of the South Island Dairy Association, aresolution was carried,' "That the executive take steps to work in combination with the North. Island Asso-; ciation for the improvement of thej disposal of our dairy produce fit iLbn-j don, by combined action, if-possible."; There will, ure are convinced, never be any permanent, or standard price for New Zealand cheese until th<B.whole of tie output is disposed of Inrough one channel. Oheepe that is graded fcito poinfei ftnd upwaa-asi Bhould, if finfdfy I«W*8, mi $ ftrattraf

market in the Old Country at a highly satisfactory price. We shall bo told that there axe difficulties in regard to different grades, and in respect t. «ales on consignment and local sales. These more imaginary than real. In some cases cheese might find a ready sale on account of its being an old-established and assured brand. After all, however, it is not a question of brand, so much as of quality. The quality can be determined only by an efficient stnff of graders. It is the duty of the Government to provide these officer s atevery «hippng port. If necessary, the number of ports of shipment for cheese might be reduced, so that the grading could be made absolutely effective. Very well, then, having an assurance that the output is .properly grnded, why should not all cheese be sold on the London market, through accredited representatives, as "New Zealand?" Each factory could he credited at the respective ports with its exact quantity and its exact grade. When the account sales come to hand, each factory would be paid according to the different prices obtained for the respectve grades. There should,, we imagine, be no difficulty in arriving at a basis of operation on the lines we have indicated. If the companies were to follow this course, there wwuld be no danger of one company securing an advantage over the other, and, as the trade would be controlled »by one combination, the whole, of our produce would, in time, be shipped on factory account. The arrangements for marketing could be such that a standard price would be obtained for the season's output, and an incentive would be offered the producers to manufacture an article that would, secure the highest possible grading;points. Moreover, if the output were "" consigned . through one source, it would be possible to make ;more satisfactory arrangements with the Shipping Companies than under existing conditions. The matter is one that requires to be tackled, in a business-like way by business men. There are individual firms, at present profiting largely by the • disintegration of the trade, which would manufacture obstacles to serve their- own purposes. These, however, need not he''*,considered' when the ,question comes under serious review, as we hope and believe it will in the near future. The dairying industry is assuming too important a phase in this Dominion to be sacrificed to private interests or-to a system of bungle.