THE EVENING MEETING.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12442, 3 March 1906, Page 11

THE EVENING MEETING.

SOME PRACTICAL .ADDRESSES,

• A meeting of tho South Island Dairy Association was held last night. Mr J. Bar nett (Leeston) presided over an attendance of about twenty-five. Mr. J.. A. Kinsella, Government Dairy Commissioner, Mr R. Cuddie, Assistant Commissioner, and Mr Giant, Government Grader at Lyttelton, were amongst those present.

THE CHAIRMAN'S ADDRESS

i The chairman said they would all be 5 pleased at the result of the two Da-h-y Associations' action in regard to froigbte. ' They had beon met very fairly by the (-•hipping companies, and the industry '' must, benefit. These annual meetings did a groat deal of good, the interchange of opinions working beneficially. /At tlie grading that day he noticed that there •nas very littlo difference in the quali- , ties,, which was a mutter for congratulation. They had to thank the Dairy Department to a great extent for the uniform quality of tho butter sent from , Now Zealand. Referring to a meeting ( held l that afternoon of representatives • from the different factories in Christshurch," he said they had discussed the question of how best to work together md assist each other and tho industry. The more the difficulties in tho way were , discussed, the sooner would they vanish. Jn tho. South Island during tho winter, he went on, a quantity of butter had to Ik? obtained from tho North Island, and tho quality was not always what it ought to be. What they desired Mr Kinsella to do was to arrange for such butter to -ho graded. Ho was pleased to see the interview with Mr Scott published in "The Press." There was no doubt that Mr Scott was right in his Temarks conwrniiig the milk on the farms; thoTO ■ was much room for improvement. Mr Scott wae not far out. also, in his roforenops to tho quality of the herds. The »• unfit and unprofitable ought to be |v ''weeded" out, but farmers should see (■.i ;bat they wero not put in tho market to j be bought by their neighbours for milking purposes. Referring to the need for a satisfactory milking machine, he expressed the opinibn that what, was required would be perfected before very i long.

The following paper by Mr J. G. FUrkness, secretary of the National Dairy Association of the North Island, RJis road by Mr J. R. Scott, secretary of tho South Island Association:—

SHIPPING ARRANGEMENTS. "It may be interesting to many of our producers and shippers of dairy produce who have perhaps taken exception to the existing shipping contract arranged >■ by the National Dairy Association of 4 New Zealand, contending that we thmild have the same rate of freights as Australia to know bow we compare in this matter with the Commonwealth. As tho season progresses we aro able yyto compare tho present shipping arrangements under the new contract ;y with that entered into by the producers v 'f Victoria. A comparison of the ■attached tables will show that the New v KaaJtod aarvica i* far in advance of the •w mhore referred to, and though we

pay a somewhat higher imte of freight, this is counterbalanced by the fact that our service is more regular and expeditious, aad for suoh advantages we must expect to pay a slightly-increased figure. It is needless almost to point out that those interested in the dairy industry of Victoria begin to " realise that the eervioo hardly meets their requirements. The contract mado with the White Star Line, Aberdeen and Lund Lines, which collectively hold tbe contract for the carriage of dairy produce from Melbourne to London via tlie Cape, made by the Committee elected under the auspices of the Agricultural Department in 1904, have rather sacrificed effectivensss to cheapness. It is the important question of arrivals that is now engaging the attention of those interested. The want of uniformity, uncertainty and delay is apparent from tho following table:— VICTORIA SBBVICB.

"A perusal of the above tables will show that the average length of the Victoria service is nearly fifty-one days, whilst the New Zealand service is only forty-two. The London correspondent of the Melbourne "Age," under dote December 29th, writes to us as follows, and confirms this contention:— 'Some of the Tooley street brokers say that they have been seriously inconvenienced in their business dealings by the recent irrogular deliveries of butter consignments despatched from Australia under tho new freight contract. From this point of view the contract, so far, has been a failure. Some of the steamers employed in the trade they point out are of unequal speed and little or no effect is made to minimise the difficulties to which this leads. The Aberdeen was pacsed on the homeward voyage by the Medic, which left Australia six days later. Between the Aberdeen and tho arrival of the Cufic fifteen days elapsed, the brokers ot first told their customero that the Cufic would arrive on the 6th December. Subsequently the date was altered to the 9th, then to the 12th, and the butter was not actually available for distribution until the 16th. The Nineveh arrived on the 18th December and the Geelong and Afric on the 24th and 26th respectively. This overlapping and irregular delivery is a great disadvantage to consignees because buyers who get accustomed to the product of certain factories and who jna-ke it a practice to buy at short stated intervals, in order to keep "their retail stocks as fresh as possible cannot do this successfully if delay and irregularities occur in the delivery. Probably in a strong market this is not so noticeable, tut when the price weakens and demands lessen and stocks accumulate, it becomes an important factor, and what is gamed in freight Ls more than lost in a reduced net result. On the whole the New Zealand Bervioe has this season beon well reported on. The arrivals are fairly regular and have given general satisfaction. In the above respects it compares favourably with the Victorian, esad although we pay a somewhat higher rate from New Zealand, both shippers and consignees have little cause for complaint. At the end of the present season we hope to compare the New Zealand service not only with the Victorian, but also with the Federal Kne6 to west porta of England." , Mr Scott added that the regular fortnightly service was greatly appreciated by producers. ADVICE FROM MR KINSELLA. Mr Kinsella said he felt that the Association had taken a good deal of work off the hands of his department. Such meetings were undoubtedly very valuable; the more they met together, the better would be. the result for the industry, and he must heartily thank tho secretary, Mr J. R. Scott, for the excellent work he had done. It was very encouraging to the department. . White the different factories deserved great credit for the butter graded that day, the older makes were showing signs of deterioration, and they must still go on hammering in the need for improvement. There was a danger of the butter going wrong in the Old Country, and they must peg away at the need for inspection. They would have to improve the raw matei-ial or else adopt pasteurisation. Some of the brands which were choice in the colony went "fishy" on the lioindon. market, and there must be something wrong somewhere. They must therefore improve the raw material, or pasteurise. In regard to home separation, he was going to hammer away ngainst that as long as he was in. New Zealand. It was gaining ground every year, and it was very plainly noticeable in the factories where homo-separated cream was received. In nine cases out of ten the home-separated cream was doing great injury to tho industry. In regard to small dairy fnotories. there wero hundreds which were turning out an inferior quality of butter, and that tended to depreciate the reputation of colonial butter altogether. Referring to tho question of unbelted butter', last year.he had suggested that he did not think it was wise to go in for that. Sinco then ho had visited factories in Taranaki* and found that tho system ,of making unsalted butter was tending to make managers careless; moreover, moro moisture was left in, and if the water was of poor quality, trouble would follow in regard to the quality of the butter. The less waiter that was used tho better: under present conditions the free use of water was dangerous. When at Home he found hJ6 experience was that nine out of ten people would ask for unsalted butter: but at the same time the butter "faker" always wanted unsalted butter, and it was not wise to assist those people. Mr Kinsella briefly condemned the use of cheap and inferior preservatives, and went on to refer to pasteurisation. What had paid the Danes, ho argued, would pay the New Zealand farmer. The Danes—apart from having the cleanest system he had 9een in the world—also went in for pasteurieation. ami he thought the question should he taken up in New Zealand. If they oonld abolish altogether theme of preservatives, and advertised the butter on tho London market as beintr. pure, he fully believed it would pay. The Danish system of having societies to control the selling in Denmark and representatives in London to watch the market, seemed to be the ho9t Rvstem. He thought it would nay the New Zealander to 6end his butter through the same ohannels and on to the same counters every year; tliat had had n great deal to do with the success of the Danes. Mr Kinsella went on to urge the need for the preparation of a fine culture, and the pressing necessity for an experimental station. Until that was obtained, there would always be trouble with the starter. He urged the need for weeding out unprofitable calves, and improving, the breeding of the herds. Mr Scott would bear him out as to the present condition of the herds. If they could sum for bettor breed ing and selection, and the adoption of the Baboock teat' for the herds, together with a little attention to winter feed, production would be improved, and the ccst reduced. And they would have to "get a move ort''*m the South, or the North Island would leave them behind. One thing that was neglected was the provision of pure water for the cowi, and

a au-flfoient quantity .of salt.. He wa&jnot going to deal with the veterinary side of the industry, but the great prevalence of abortion waa a yery serious matter for the colony. The matter ought to be tackled without delay; the farmers should get to work immediately, and try to stamp out tho disease, or there would be a great deal of trouble. The best way was to get the farmers together in eaoh district, and demonstrate the beat method of treatment. Another very serious and prevalent disease was that of contagious mammitis. Referring briefly to the butter-faking question, he advocated tlie advisability of the various colonies urging on the British Government the need for passing the proposed Bill j and power ought to be given to the colonial representatives to enter the various places, take samples, and see what was being done. Another thing that was wanted in New Zealand was an up-to-dato dairy school. In conclusion, be again urged on farmers the need for adopting, as far as possible, the cleanly methods of the Danes. In Denmark the milking was mostly done by women and girls, with something dean and white in the shape of dress, and the milk was strained and filtered. In Taranaki, when be went there first, he found men aerating milk close to the most filthy stenches imaginable ; the Department had been able to bring about a great deal of improvement in that respect. One thing more he must touch on was the necessity for protecting the New Zealand white pine industry, of which timber the butter boxes were made. The average box sent away now was the best on the British market, and they should stick to it. A good many of the boxmakere in tno south, however, were now having to make tho boxes in two pieces, and the white pine ought to be protected. As to the grading of butter for local consumption, as mentioned by the chairman, the Department had no power, under the Act, to do so. There was danger ahead, but he woukl be glad to see some system of grading butter for local consumption, provided the means of conveyance were improved.

Mr Cuddle referred to tho quality of the butter graded that morning, and stated that the flavour of the best was **i"y good indeed, and would, he thought, keep well and sell on the Home market. There were also "fair to medium" brands; it had some slight defects which prevented it getting the highest marks. The third class was that of poor quality, but there had been none of that at Lyttelton. There was still room for improvement, however. It was not always the milk only that was to be blamed for poor butter; the factory -mama-gens might do better with the material to hand". Mr Cuddie went on to eulogise the good work done through the agenoy of the alkaline test in oheese-makirag. and suggested that it might be adopted in the manufacture of butter. He was confident that if the factory managers would adopt the test as a guide, in addition to their own judgment, the result would he .alracst as beneficial as in the cheese-making.

GENERAL BUSINESS

Mr Hubbard (Toi Tapu) moved the following motion:—"That this meeting of members of the South Island Daily Association is of opinion that the charges of the Lyttelton Harbour Board for the storage of butter are excessive. and that the secretaries be instructed to write to the Board with a view to securing a reduction of the same." Mr Ellison (Christchuroh) seconded the motion.

Mr Scott said he had interviewed the secretary of the Harbour Board, and had seen that the charges had amounted to only £269 a year. He was satisfied the Harbour Board desired only to treat them fairly, and he felt convinced a reduction would be made, if a loss was not made over the charges.

The motion was carried

Mr Ellison referred to the question of labour; cheap labour could not be obtained' in New Zealand—possibly it was a good thing—but the production must be affected. What they wanted was a perfected milking machine, which would, he believed, double the output. Ho therefore moved: "That the Government be requested to offer a bonus of £500 to the inventor., of a reliable milking machine; also, that the Dairy Commissioner be asked to arrange for an extended and exhaustive trial #of any milking machines offered, or which may be- offered to the public." Mr Bowie (Timaru) seconded the motion. Mr Kinsella said he had nothing to say concerning the bonus, but he believed the Government ought to have scientific tests carried out. with a view to determining the cleanliness of milk produced by hand and machine respectively. The motion was carried.

Mr Ellison moved further—"That this Association take immediate steps to bring under the notioe of all butter companies in the South Island the deplorable fact that much of their butter, on arrival in England, is being extensively adulterated, and that a continuance of this practice will ultimately mean the extinction of New Zealand butter as far as the retail trade is. concerned: this Association further urges upon all butfer and cheese factories in the oolony to make united representation to the Minister for Agriculfc-ire reouestirar him to take steps to represent the matter to the proper authontieß in England." The motion found no seconder, and therefore lapsed. -■> Mr Kiraseila sard he hardly thought the motion had received the consideration it deserved. The butter, would be diverted from its proper channels in England, unless they looked after the private brands, and dealt With the question of salted butter. They ought to try and protect the reputation .the butter had gained. Mr Scott also expressed 6urprtse that moro interest had not been shown.

On thk, Mr Ellison was allowed to put the motion again, and it was seconded and carried.

In the course of a few remarks Mr Hurdley (Timaru) referred to the interview with iMt Soot*, published in "The Pre«," and eaid he fully agreed that there was a great need for an improvement in dairy stock. Farmers seemed to think that any sort of a calf would do. so long as it was a oalf. A good cow cost no more to keep than a bad ono,and would give 50 per oent. better returns. Mr Bowie moved that the Government be requested to place a prohibitive restriction on the export of white pine, which had been referred! to by Mr Kinsella.

Mr seconded, and the motion was carried, Mr J. Rennie dissenting. A hearty vote of thanks to Mr Kinsella Mr "Cnddie. and staff, for their attendance and the valuable work they were doing, closed the meeting.

Steamer. fate of Date of Bailing. Arrival. Miltiades .. Sept. 1, 1905 Oct. 18, 1905 Huntc .. Sept. 9 „ Oct, 28 „ Narrunir .. Sept. 6 ,. Nov. 2, „ Morivun .. Sept. 15 „ Nov. 3 „ Tropic ..Sept. 22 „ Not. 15 ,. Wilcann'u .. Sept. 23 „ Nov. 19 „ Medic .. Oct. 13 „ Nov. 28 „ Aberdeen .. Oct. 6 „ Nov. 30 „ Cuflc .. Oct. il „ Dec. 14 „ Nineveh ..Oct. 27 „ Dec 18 „ Geelong .. Nov. 2 „ Dec- 24 „ Afric .. Nov. 11 „ Dec. 26 „ Marsthon ..Nor. 17 „ Jan. 3, UW6 Warrigal ..Nov.25 „ Jan. 16 „ Suevic .. De.-. '£ „ Jan. 18 „ Length ot Voyage. Days. 47 49 57 49 54 52 46 55 64 52 52 45 47 52 46 NEW ZEALAND SKBVIOB. Turskina .. Oct 1. 1905 Nov. 11,1905 C.;rinthto .. Oct. 11 „ Nov. 21 „ Fapiroa .. Oct. 25 „ Dee. 9 „ Kumar* ..' Nov. 12 „ D«c 26 ,, ituapehu .. Nov.25 „ Jan. 5.1906 Gothic .. Dec. 9 „ J»n.2l „ hUnuuka .. Dec. 21 „ Feb. 1 „ lonlo .. Jan. 6, 19.6 Kek 20 „ Toogariro .. Jan. 18 „ Feb. 28 „ 42 42 45 41