DAIRY MANAGERS MEET.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 253, 24 October 1919, Page 10

DAIRY MANAGERS MEET.

KAXE/OTAY NEEDS DISCUSSED. I

__MOD___tE_ ASSOCIATIOX. A. general meeting of members of the New Zealand Dairy Factory Managers' Association (Auckland district) was held yesterday afternoon, after the provincial grading conference. Mr. C. J. Parlane ('Frankton) presided, and over thirty members took part. The special business was a resolution authorising the winding up of the Association as at present incorporated, and its re-formation on a new basis. The chairman explained that it was desired to organise the Association under a system of district committees, with a provincial executive at the head of affairs. A set of rules was accordingly drawn up, and'submitted to the Registrar of Incorporated Societies, who refused to sanction them. It was now proposed to wind up the old Association, and start afresh outside the restrictions of the Incorporated Societies Act. The resolution was carried unanimously, and the following provisional executive was elected:—Messrs. C. J. Parlane (Frankton), president; T. H. Downs (Northern Wairoa), G. C. H. Petersen (Hautapu, Cambridge), W. T. Kirkman (Hamilton), A. J. Garry (Helensville), A. Milne (Gordonton), A. M. Stirling (Pukekohe), hon secretary. A number of matters of interest to the dairying industry were then discussed. These included the grading of cream, the payment of premiums, to "concerns turning out'a specially high grade article, and the wages of dairy factory workers. On the last point the meeting expressed itself in favour of free and unofficial conferences between the parties as the best means of reaching a settlement on a faunas is. A deputation was appointed to wait on the district railway traffic manager in the hope of securing the better protection of butter consignments against theft, the protection of cheese from rats and mice, more speedy transit to Auckland, regular and thorough cleaning of cream trucks (which were stated to be often :n a filthy state), and an arrangement whereby itemised receipts for pods might be signed by railway officials below the rank of stationmaste'r. The meeting, including the Agricultural Department officials present, strongly favoured grading conferences for first assistants and other workers in dairy factories. It was decided to arrange for the first such conference, if possible, at an early date. Taking the difference at £5 a ton, this meant, in -# 3 ' So ° to the Dominion and z-61,i3t to Auckland last year. ASSOCIATION LUNCH. A YETERAX- GRADER. PRESENTATION TO MR. THORNTON. A lunch was given at the Waverley Hotel yesterday by the N.Z. Dairy Factory Managers' Association, amon* the guests beta* Mr. D. Cuddle director of ?. Ru , ry ~ Produce D »'ision of the Agricultural Department, and Air \ °A tSeSt O ™l Vho thiS m ° Dth cel ebrates his' twenty-fifth year as a Government grader. In proposing the toast of the "Dairy I Industry. Mr. J. W. Greville gave an I infanfv aCCOUnt of the industry's I • j Ir 'x S " ?' Ambui T> replying, said the industry had practically saved the coun- ' try at a time when there was practically cnaos He knew of no country in the world better suited for the industry than New Zealand. Mr. Cuddie mentioned that the pro-1 duce sent forward for .grading during, tne last financial year was worth £5,250,000, figures which showed it to,' be one of the most important industries in the Dominion, and he felt safe _ saying that if the recent rate of _- ' crease was maintained the export value ' of the colony's milk products would exceed £15,000,000 before many years were past. It was a remarkable thing that the Dominion had been able to maintain its increase in spite of the number of men away at the war. Mr. CuddS paid i a high compliment to the work the dairy ' factory managers were doing, and said he thought the Department should now concentrate its energies on the farm end of the industry. Among a minority j a good deal of improvement in the ' quality of the produce could be brought about. There was no desire to harass them, but much useful help could be given in a friendly way by the Department's men. Increased attention was being given to that very important ! branch, herd testing. Seven more men ■had been appointed this year, and there were now 20 testing associations, as com- ' pared with six last year. Mr. C. J. Parlane (president of the ' Association), Air. T. Downs, and Mr. Cuddie all spoke most highly of the work done by Mr. Thornton, who is the only one of the original graders left. Mr. Parlane said their guest had ben a great help in reaching the present high standard. Mr. Cuddie referred specially +0 Mr. Thornton's enthusiasm, which as keen to-day as when he started. He commanded respect for his ability as a grader, ajd for his conscien- i tious ca trying out of his duties. Mr. Thornton was then presented with a framed address and a case of pipes, from the Association. In thanking the managers for their kindly gifts Mr. Thornton gave some very amusing instances of the antagonism which the grading system aroused when first instituted by the Government, and trneed the gradual swing-round of the pendulum of opinion in favour of the system. He said it was extremely nice to meet tfte managers as he was doing that day, and contrasted the present with the days when the graders and inspectors ' were dodged religiously by all dairy people when they appeared on the horizon.

J ritOM NAURU ISLAND.