CHEESE INCREASE

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21193, 16 August 1940, Page 7

CHEESE INCREASE

POLICY OF COMPANY RESTS ON INDIVIDUAL EFFORT HELP TO GREAT BRITAIN “Suppliers will know that the British Government has asked for at least 15,000 tons of additional cheese during the coming season,” said Mr V/. Marshall, chairman, of directors. “Your directors and the management have decided to do everything possible to enable our company to make the maximum possible contribution toward securing this increase. The poliqy which has been laid down is, broadly, that as far as it is possible to arrange—• (1) No person or group should make a profit out of the change-over necessary.

(2) That the individual supplier who changes over to cheese should not be called upon to meet an undue portion of the cost involved.

(3) That as far as they can be calculated, any losses the company may incur shall be spread over all suppliers to the company. “I hope this policy will meet with the approval of the suppliers.

“Our duty today is crystal clear. This organisation is doubtless the largest producer of dairy produce in the Empire. Great Britain has had some sources of supply cut off and what we can supply may be vital in a crucial hour. AH our weight and effort must be thrown without reservation into the common task. The individual supplier is the unit of this business. What we are able to do depends almost entirely on individual effort, and I am confident we shall play a worthy part in the days that lie ahead. Maximum Effort Needed “We are faced with the necessity to put forth our maximum effort now in realisation of the fact that each dairy farm and factory must do everything possible to help feed our kinsmen in Great Britain, who, today, are bearing the brunt pf the defence of all that' we hold most precious. “It is impossible to foresee what changes will be brought about by the stupendous upheaval which is taking place and by the astronomical sums which the nations are spending on war,” added Mr Marshall. “The iron heel of change is shaking the very ground from underneath our feet till we wonder what will happen next; but one thing appears to stand out clear, and it is that when the war is over we shall have to sell our products in an impoverished market, in which a lower priced competitive article has already gained a firm footing. “Lord Balfour of Burleigh warned us when he said: ‘A world that is being taught by high prices and propaganda to eat margarine instead of butter may take longer to discard the habit than will suit dairy farmers.’

“The prudent course, in such circumstances, for the dairy farmer is to make sure that adequate maintenance is done on the farm and to husband his resources.

“In conclusion I should like to thank the general manager, executive officers and staff for their efficient and loyal work,” concluded Mr Marshall, “and to express my appreciation of the assistance and support which I have received from my colleagues on the board, and my admiration for the time they have given to the company’s work during a busy year.”

RESPONSE

ATTITUDE OF SUPPLIERS “In regard to the request that has been received from Britain for a minimum increase of 15,000 tons in the Dominion’s cheese production it is obviously our duty to do everything within our power to meet this call. As we operate a large number of cheese factories we thought it would not be too much to ask our

people to provide at least 4000 tons of this quantity,” said Mr C. J. Parlane, general manager, in his address. “We appreciate to the full just what it would mean to butter suppliers in the vicinity of our cheese factories to change over to cheese supply, but it appeared to us that the difficulties that would be met with were as nothing compared with the difficulties of those from whom the request had been received. We are pleased to say that we have met with a splendid response from the great majority of the suppliers who have been asked to make the change. Indeed they have shown an excellent spirit.

‘‘We received the request for an increased quantity of cheese towards the end of June and we immediately placed orders for a large number of milk cans, cheese vats, agitators, etc., feeling confident that our farmers would rise to the occasion and, generally speaking, we have not been disappointed. The result is that at nearly all of our factories the vats will be kept full for a much longer period than is customary.

“This arrangement will mean that a number of suppliers who will be making their milk available during toe early spring and autumn months will require to separate on their farms during the flush period but, in respect of payment, their milk will be regarded as cheese supply as from the date they commenced to supply the cheese factory. The cheese suppliers will not suffer to any extent by this arrangement because of the reduction in manufacturing costs due to the increased- supply. “In some instances, milk which is usually supplied for powder manufacture will be transferred to cheese factories during the spring and autumn months and the milkpowder suppliers, as a whole, have cheerfully agreed to bear any increased costs that may accrue to their respective groups because of this arrangement.”