DAIRY DIRECTORS

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19885, 14 May 1936, Page 8

DAIRY DIRECTORS

i ANNUAL MEETING. l l SOUTH AUCKLAND ASSOCIATION. l ..._. i ‘ RESOLUTIONS T 0 GOVERNMENT. The affect on the daii‘ying industry of the Government's recent legislation formed the chief topic for discussion at the annual meeting of the South Auckland Dairy Association which was held at the ottlce of the secretary, Mr B. English, to—day. The chairman, Mr S. A. Ferguson presided over a representative attendance. Another very strenuous year had been completed by the association, said the chairman in his annual report. Meetings had been well attended and keen interest had been shown by members in their desire to improve the conditions pertaining to the industry. The regulation brought in by the Department requiring more nails in the ends of Saranac boxes was taken up by the executive, said the chairman. members considering that this would entail extra cost to factories without a corresponding benefit to the produce, ment that some of the timber in the boxes with the lesser number of nails had warped and allowed the boxes to open up and dust to enter which spoilt the appearance of the butter when exposed for sale. Goal Prices. The abnormal rise in the price 01’ coal used in the factories has been engaging the attention of your execu—l.i\’e. A large deputation representing all dairy companies using coal from \\'aikato mines waited on the Coal Mine Owners’ Association and pointed out the unreasonabieness of this increase in costs at a time when dairy companies were using every effort to re—duce manufacturing costs to help sup~ pliers over the slump. The Coal Mine Owners received our deputation. but informed us that they were not able to meet our wishes. A committee was formed from the deputation. which is still working along the lines of obtaining reduced prices for dairy companics. Guaranteed Prices for Produce. “The result of the recent Parliamentary election has altered the whole outlook for our industry. The new Government has passed legislation which gives them power to take possession ol‘ all export primary produce and pay a fixed price {or it. f.o.b. ocean steamer, without regard to the price ruling in the country where pro~ duce is marketed, and without regard to variations in costs of producing and manufacturing the article.

“Your executive has taken up the attitude that it was never contemv plated that the ownership of the produce would pass to the Government. and that no guaranteed maxunum price will be of any use to the farmens unless it. is sufficient to cover the enormous increase in costs both on farms and in factories that will certainly occur as the result of other legislation being passed by the present Parliament, and, at the same time, enable the farmer to pay competitive wages to his employees and have a reasonable return for his labour and for capital expended. But seeing that the Bill has been passed, your executive will do everything in its power to assist the Government so long as it adheres to its declared policy to do what is possible to give a return to ihe farmer equal to that of other industries, and commensurate to the time, energy, labour and capital expended in pro—ducing and manufacturing his product." Members lie-elected. Messrs C J. Parlane and .7. Bell, the two retiring members from the execu~ tive were re-e'lected. .\lr J. E. \Vest was given authority to attend meetings during the absence of Mr J. Cotter. .\lessrs English and Smith were appointed auditors. ‘ It was resolved to make no alteration in The levy to she made this sea.son.

Farmer-9' Freezing campany. The secretary of the East «least Dairy Association advised that it had been decided that the nomination of Mr P. 'l‘. Kean for vacancy on the directorate 01‘ the Auckland Farmers‘ Freezing Company be re-conuncndcd for support.

The opinion was expressed by Mr P. Hawke that a system of zoning should be considered and that the ward system should be adopted in the election of directors to the company. Mr R. H. McKenzie expressed agreement with this view and said that the election of directors should Ibe on a more equitable basis.

The following resolution. moved by Mr P. Hawken, was carried: “That a recommendation be made to the Auck—land Ffll'll‘lel‘b' Freezing Company that. an amendment be made in articles of the company so that dairy company representatives might be elected on the ward system.“ Legislatlon Dlsoussed. The meeting went into committee to discuss the Government‘s legislation‘s effect on the claiming industry, and a committee comprising Messrs \\’. Y. lx'irkman‘ S. A. Ferguson and Li. J. Parlane was appointed to draft a tele—gram to forum-cl to the Minister of Agriculture, the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Labour. The tele—gram read : “At. the annuai meeting of the South Auckland Dairy Association held to~day it was unanimously resolved that the Government he re~ quested to defer application of the various proposed Acts applicable to dairy companies. particularly in re« gard to special hours and additional ralt‘s or pay for specified holidays and Saturday afternoons, until such time as the dairy con'ipauies' representatims have had thr- opportun—ily to state their casc before the Ar—lvitratirm llrvui‘t.” Mr \\'t lirarhutt. of flamln'ii'lszc. ‘,.<trv>,<ml llic iimmrtan-‘e ut' the Mini ‘istl'r of \ul'it‘lllllll't"> making: an iiumc» iliatr‘ promlunr‘cuu‘nt in regard in the t‘Xtt‘n' Hf ihc [lrci'l‘rential wumcut for I‘ll('r‘.\'l‘ m‘r‘r lulttr‘r, ,\ rcsolulinn moved I‘ll“ this .\[N‘dkl'l‘ in the utter! lhal thi\linislt'r should luv asked in maki- Mimi,imluclhain [u‘nuouucL-mcul quit the ru—snlutiou >F‘lll tly ”lt‘ rcr'cnt dairy cow i‘ercui'c in Hamilton that the [ll't‘l'Pl'Pll‘ tial payment he at least 191. \\as cat‘riml llllrlllitl‘lt'llhl)‘. Subsldy for immune. A \\ii’lc liiu‘rxeul'e (If opinion \\as \Luntlnued in next. column.)

expressed when the chairman sug—gested that. the meeting should mmmum‘cate with the Government asking it to see that prices for fertilis—ers are kF'pf I‘Pasonalrlo. as the subsith would lapse at the Pnrl of June. Mr JP. Ilawke ‘t‘flf‘tSidPl‘f‘d that it would not he amisahle to as]; the (jovernment t'or assistancr in this regard, as it would 1w prvt‘ornhlw fur farmers to erect a fertiliser “writs of their um]. A rr‘sntutinn. brought forward by)” \\'. Hurhutt. asking the (irn'vrnmont u prntr-rt. t’urmrrs t‘rnm l'xptuitatlmt in regard In tho prim) nf manures was 10M. (In tho suggestion M Mr \\‘. llm‘hutt. .l .\nmll r-nmnittvu cmnprining .\ll‘hsl‘s \\. Ilnl‘l'ull. \\'. Hnrhutl, Mr .I. L. Faulkuvr :Imt thr rhairmrm \\ils a.p~ painted tu kf‘t‘p in vmmnuuimhon with tho Farmers' l‘ninn in I'PFdI'II tn the mattor nt‘ rnmponsatin: pl‘irr‘s. .\lr .I. Roll wluzht tlw suugnstilms m‘ thr‘ mr‘otimz tn haw payouts marl» on a mmmnn hasis for puhlirntinn purposes. It was remlverl tn rm'nmmend companies to make the payout on the amt class article with id, nremium :9: Agent.