NATIONAL DAIRY CONFER= ENCE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 233, 25 June 1908, Page 4

NATIONAL DAIRY CONFER= ENCE.

INTERESTING PAPERS BY EXPERTS.

INSTRUCTIVE DISCUSSIONS. (From our Special Reporters.)' . Palmorston, Juno 24. ' The National Dairy Conferenco was continued this morning. Tho big conference hall! held a largo audience at ID o'clock,, whoa' • Mr. H. M. Singleton (Acting-Dairy Commissioner) read his paper on ■ "THE CHEESE INDUSTRY." .f . During tho past season, said. Mr'. ton, exports of cheese increased from 176,379 cwts. in 1906-7 to 291,617 cwts. in 1907-8, 65 per cent, on tho previous season's exports. Regulations of cheese factories showed an increaso by '83 per cent, iu two years. This season showed an increase of 41 registrations, or 38 ■ per cent, over the pre- • ceding season. Prom 82 cliceso factories in operation two years since, have been requisitioned managers and first assistants for the. increase of 68 factories—or from every six factories wo have had 'to procure men to direct the work of five additional factories. Somo Comments. Although many of our newer managers endeavoured ,to do good 'work, their training was not commensurate with the duties they' were, undertaking. The experience of all meu ■ must, as a rulo, be paid for, and this season some of our factory managers have been pro-. : curing their experience at the expense of tho milk suppliers at a figure which under ordi-: . nary conditions would be considered altogether too lligll. . Quality. , i ' The general consensus of opinion has cro- ; , dited the quality of-New Zealand 'cheese with ' , an.advancement which has be^n;.gradually% made during recent seasons. That,iadvance soonis to have halted in some cases during tho present season. Not up to Standard. "Tho averago quality of our cheese this., season cannot .be credited with any improvement/. t Reports from London, as. a whole; are not so favourable as might liavo bccri.oxpectcd during a season w|ien i market conditions could not bo said to' bo unfavourablo.. Reports from Britain on quality, should bo, more authentic than .usual this' season, since tho market; has fluctuated less. 7 From tho tenor of these reports, buyefs have ■not boon so well pleased with the quality of our cheese, and knowing the existing conditions in Now Zealand, this is -not to bo wondered at. . "We Expect Improvement." Flavours have come in for more or less comment,, but now that dairy inspection'has become established, some ' improvement should be evidenced in the future. To a limited extent this should have an indirect ef- ' feet on the "make" of, the cheese, i.e.-, it should be Easier to make the cheese right.'" Ono of tho principal defects in our cheese this;i season is- •" openness." This is . us-'-unlly, directly,'th'e'fault of'the lnanSger, but may bo indirectly'due to tho mi If; supplied. , The invasion^'of tho v cheese'business by tho' 1 ' butter people this" season is undoubtedly re- ; sponsiblo in tho main for the. retrogradt : - movement in' tho quality of our cheeses ■ ' T '.Effect'of.'Milk Supply.;, ..

" That the results of this invasion have not. proved-.'too satisfactory is well known. The : experience will probably bo of, inestimable.; value to some of our factories and. their suppliers. It was not until , a change was made from butter to cheeso that many suppliers wero given 'to understand-the necessity for a clean milk supply. It was not until the second grade reports .began to oomo in'that it was realised how mucli room there was for . improvement. It was shown that butter-making was glossing over many discrepancies, and that the. true., condition of the milk supply'/was worse than it was supposed to bo! Too many of our butter factories have beeiv and are, jesting contentedly in close proximity to a Jiombshell similar, to that which cheese-making has exploded for others this season. ....

" By their Fruits." "Cheese-making has this season evidenced the fact that much milk hitherto , passed without comment contained germs that ' paused bad results. Poor milk will not an- , swer for -cheese-making—it is not the best,' for butter-making—therefore, wo require better,milk. . ' .'

>, Labour. , "Tho labour question has- been exercising tho mindß of dairymen for some considerable time. It is generally-recognised that the dairy farmer is ''up against it.'' la Th6" hours which constitute;. the; day's work- have' boon so defined as to . have, a detrimental effect on the' resultant, quality. The hour limit is found, in many casos, to bo incompatible with-the best results in manufacture, and. the all too-frequent, tendency, has . been to hurry tho. process rather than mulct the employor in extra wages, for overtime. This is false economy, since in cheesemaking,. if best results aro to be obtained, tho , old. precept, 'what is worth doing is worth doing well,' must bo enthroned as a god,, and must bo worshipped with diligence. - The offect of cutting tho day's work too short, or hastening the process unduly, lias been evidenced by a larger percentage of loose, open, and weak-bodied choese wnich havo .come forward for oxport this season. Tho consideration of hours in. the cheese factory work had apparent!,;', received too much attention. Tho employee should bo satisfied with, a fair, average day. . - Groan Cheese. "Tho tendency to . ship immature cheese has during -tho past season been prevalent than over beforo, Buyers' reports commenting on many of our earlier made cheese, as showing 'tough curd,', have been more common this season. Market conditions inlluonco the demands, and .this season Britain's stores of Canadian cheese aro in • the hands of .strong holders.. -Our heavier exports of cheeso at times tended- to make the market quieter for Canadian,, since these weiohcld for prices higher than oursr.were sold for. It would seem that tho demand, f.ir a meaty body in. New Zealand cheese was moro accentuated than usual this season, Binco a larger proportion wore required for immediate consumption. We can to advantage leave a little more moisturo in our 'spring cheese.' Spring Cheese. "Attention was drawn to this ill an early bulletin published under tho head of 'Spring Cheeso Making.' Wo can with profit leavo more moisturo in those cheeses which land in England during Britain's winter months. "There is littlo room for pessimism in tho cheeso industry. Although tho quality of our chcesc has had a temporary setback this season that cannot bo permanent. Tho cheese industry is on a solid footing, and it will only bo a question of time until our nower suppliers of cheese factories ond tho managers will have ttmdo such improvement that tho product of their factories will comparo favourably, with the best. Wo require hearty co-operation, and the majority of ' thoso factories which con-; tinue clieesemaking should profit by each successive's year's experience. Where this is tho caoe improvement- must bo the re> suit." (Loud applause.)

Mr. Singleton said it might bo that futuro experiments would possibly indicate sonicthing different, but tho conclusions they had come to vrcrc that it would not pay a" company to go to the oxpenso of installing a freeaer and tho liccessaiy machinery in order to euro at tho lower temperature. Their

experiments had- shown that it would pay best to havo a curing room that would maintain the most oven and tho lowest temperature . obtainable naturally ..from tho atmosphere. That could be done largely with concrete floors and walls. ■ Another question was whether by cooling the morning's milk an increase,in the cheeso yield could be' obtained. ■ T • Mr. Singleton said that this question had received some consideration from tlip faotory managers, and had boon discussed by factory directors aud the settlors. Ho was sorry, personally, that ho could not hold out any encouragement.'on the lines on which thoy had been 'going; i.e., ho must how say that no increase in the yield would bo seourod by cooling the milk.. Tho samo yield was obtainod from tho uncooled as . the coolod morning's milk. . . ' The Now Regulations. Replying further, the oxpert said that tho now regulations would ask settlors to cool the morning's milk as well as'the night's yield:". -Tho Government would not bo as insistent on aoration as at'one' time. They, recognised that aeration in a ,pure atmosphore was beneficial, but merely cooling tho milk under most circumstances, and in many surroundings, was all that was necessary, and sometimes advisable. To another questioner, Mr. Singleton'said thatjlate delivery of milk at factories conspired to the' production of cheese of inferior .quality.' Votes of Thanhs. , A hearty voteVof.'thanks was accorded Mr. Singleton, for his. paper. ' The lecturer was frequently applauded. •' CO-OPERATION IN DENMARK.' A paper on ."Co-operation in Denmark," 'written by Mr. J. Pedersen (Dairy Instruc-tor)-was read, .in. the writer's, unavoidable absence, by Mr. J. -G.' Harkness. Denmark's modern prosperity,' ran the paper, rests on agriculture. There are manufacturing - industries,. but dairy farming, stock raising, and poultry raising, are the principal sources of wealth. Fifty-three per cent; of Denmark's population of two and a half millions belongs to the agricultural class.-

In' 1906 the annual export of butter, bacon, and eggs was valued at £15,556,000, yet the wliolo area qf tho country is .but one-eighth of . that of the "United Kingdom, ■ arid some of the land is' only of- poor quality. Den-mark-has kept its .people on the land, and the people make . the: land yield the very utmost. During the: last twenty years an enormous development has taken place; before that time, and especially after the disastrous war with Germany, Danish agriculturo seemed to be on the brink of ruin,, owing -to the fall in value of its then staple products, 1 namely, cows and cattle.-; It was found necessary to make a change, and that, change was to dairying. .

Dairying the Factor.^ •Dairying has been the" main factor in tho prosperity of the country, and real poverty is now almost unknown in Denmark. The success: of agriculture and dairying may v be traced:—(l) To the fact that the laws do everything to prevent the creation of , large farms; .(2) Many large estates have been cut ;up and sold to the farmers, arid; the Danish farmer mostly owns the.'land ho cultivates:, one-fifteenth of the agricultural; population are leaseholders; the remainder are' freeholders; (Loud applause.) (3) To tho cooperation system., ;' -i„ ; . ,ii ' Tho Start. ■ ~ln'lßßo tho,first co-operative\dairy factory was started, with 150 cows, in Jutland'(on the, West .Coast), . which has some of tho poorest land in the country.- The'same factory., now receives ; milk from about ■• 4000 ■COWS. ■ \To prevent the spread -of tuberculosis (which seemed to'--be increasing; when, tho factory, system was adopted), skim milk returned to suppliers,; is pastuerised. All skim milk , and cream- must be heated to a-tem-perature of. at least, 185 degrees EV .To v seo that this : is;^fully; carried, out, inspectors go round : and, take samples of the different milks. ■'■■■; ' •'

Pasteurisation of tho skim milk, has . also checked the spread .of the Pome, separation system, as the farmer now gets his skim' milk back in a sweet and' sound condition. tlio Danish butter is without doubt the purest butter shipped to Great Britain, containing no preservative except puro salt, arid tlie fact is well advertised. v..: Branded by Government. ■. . " All Danish butter is stamped with a Government'brandj 'so it is'impossible to export foreign' butter to- England as Danish. Large factories sometimes combine arid ship their butter under one brand, building up a reputation for that special brand, and an agent is sent 'over to Great Britain to advertise and push.the sale. ' The largest butter.factory was formed by the, co-operation of the. owners of severallarge, farms in 1899. - A good deal; of this factory's butter was . exported to, France. : Last season several .of the large factories, instead of making butter, have been exporting milk and \cream to Germany, and •also to Great Britain. It paid them better, and if other factories follow, suit, it is likely that the export of Danish butter 'io" England; will.decrease. *' . • Control societies have been formed to report. on the, quantity of butter-fat contained in the milk, and keep a' complete account not only of. the: entiro stock, but of each single-cow. . Co-oporatiue ,Bacon Factories. v The - first .'co-onerativo bacon factorv was founded in ,1887. There are now 36." The :actory every wee.k fixes a certain quotation, according to which the members are paid jut, in advance, a certain sum, depending jn the classification (first, second, or third) jf the pics. The balance is paid off by tho ind of the financial year. With the help of breeding stations (under tho control of the Agricultural ■ Department) the producers are trying to improve,; the quality of tho • bacon. and to meet the requirements of the English market, and the high price'of Danish bacon is evidence of'success.'

; Co-operativo Egg, Export., The' egg export started .in 1895, when tho Danish co-operative export'was started. It started local centres (of which, there arc now 500); ' introduced the branding system, and it has a severo regulation providing that members must only deliver daily clean newlaid eggs for export. This company alono exported over £205.560 worth last year. Eighty-oight per cent; of the country's export is classed as agricultural produce. Tho Government encourages the creation, of small holdings-by advancing nine-tenths, of the purchase money for land, stock, and equipment, and no side of Danish agriculture has reaped more profit from the cooperative movements than these small farms, as they now'receive tho same payments for their produce as the large farms. Not only tho {State, but agricultural organisation as a whole,, does much to help this class of farm. •• ■ . . "

All Oivnors.' The.Danish farmers on these small holdings are all the owners —(applaiiso)—and tho profit, of all the improvements is inherited by their children. They are indopendont, and as they have passed through comparatively good schools, and have, as a rule, received •an education at the people's High School, they are well prepared for progress. ■ • Discussion. , , , "I notice," said a farmor, "that'GJd. per gallon is paid-for milk in Denmark, and Is. is obtained for butter. Can anyone giye any reason for that?" (Laughter.) " Oh, leave it alone!" said someone., Tho Chairman: "It - is beyond mo!" (Laughter.) Mr. -'Singleton (Acting Dairy Commissioner): "I don't konw whether, in Mr. Pcderson's absence, we can answer that question." Olio point worthy of consideration was the- bearing of co-operation on tho industry. Mr. Cuddie, in a private letter, had informed tho speaker that it was the extent of tho co-operation in Denmark that had most impressed itself upon him. At all events, Danish farmers were able to get 50 per' cent, more out of their cow 3 than farmers in Now Zealand, aiid this would suggest that a little more study of the question of co-operation would do no harm out here. (Applause.) On the motion of the Chairman it was re-

solved, with loud applause, to forward Mr. Pedorscn a lottor of tlmnbs. Quostions Answered. Discussion oil tho papor was invited. Mr. W. Dompstcr. asked if. tho use of milking machines had mado any difference in tho quality of cheeso. Mr. Singleton said that if tho machines were kept clean, as good results, as in tho case of hand-milking could bo obtained. (Applause.) ' • In reply to anothor question Mr. Singleton said that in Canada in sonio quarters early shipments of checse to Europe v;oro being condemned. For ono or two years tho Canadian .cheeso was not only not holding its own, but was • showing retrogression through early shipments. Tho companies that were making Canada's reputation were those who Were ripening the cheeso to a proper ago in tho factories. " Mr. F. J. Nathan asked for information as to the carrying out of experiments in the cold process at tho Dalcfield factory. BUTTER BOX MANUFACTURE.' A meeting of dairy company representatives in this district was convened this morn•ing, for the purpose of discussing with the delegates of tho Egmont Butter Box Company proposals for the latter company to provide the trade with made-up boxes, or with the raw material for the boxes. Mr. F. J. Nathan presided. The attendance was small. ' ' Some discussion took place, from which it seems unlikely that-the proposals submitted by the box company will be accepted. As tho outcome of the meeting inquiries will be mado with a view to the formation of a company operating over tho Manawatu and Wellington districts. The advisability of tho companies orcct.ing a mill and manufacturing boxen themselves was also considered. The opinion was expressed that the timber would ho.ve to be obtained from the West Coast of the South Island.

The Chairman is to make further inquiries and report to tho delegates.

DAIRY COMPANIES SECRETARIES. ' At' the annual meeting of tho Dairy Companies Secretaries' Institute to-night the following officers - were elected for the ensuing year President, Mr. J. G. Harkness; vice-presidents, Messrs. F. C. Ross (Cheltenham), J. W. Whittaker. (Palmerston); secretary, Mr. J. W. Whittaker. The Council was abolished. Tho report and bal-ance-sheet disclosing- a satisfactory financial position, were adopted.

EMPLOYERS'FEDERATION. AFFINITY OF INTERESTS. AFFILIATION RECOMMENDED. , Mr. W. Pryor, organising secretary of the Wellington Employers' Federation, attended Tuesday's meeting of tho National Dairy Association to lay before the' Association the advantages of affiliation with tho Employers' Federation. Tho chairman (Mr. J. W. Foreman) asked was the wish of the meeting that Mr. Pryor bo heard? ' i Mr. Marx .(Taranaki) said he was a member of an employers! federation in Taranaki, but if the Association allowed a representative of the Employers' Federation to speak on matters 'of Unionism they 'would also be asked probably to allow tho employers' representative to do likewise. They respected a number of the employers, and recognised that they: could not get along without them. (Hear', hear.) Was it advisablo to tako this step?

Mr. J7 T. Lang (Palmerston) contended they should hear Mr. Pryor. . Mr. f. J. 'Nathan argued that there was no more important subject than the one Mr. Pryor would lay before them. Mr. Marx's argument was out of the question. The employers were' fighting with experts—men' who . knew every .trick and turn of •It would also' be an ungracious act to refuse to meet Mr. Pryor.

The Chairman, said that the Dairy Factory Employers' Union, had refused to join the Employers' Federation, not bccauso they were hostile or because they 'doubted Mr. Pryor's ability, but' because they. thought that their industry would bo better as it was for a time, and they wanted to see if they could not get along alone. . At a directors' meeting the previous evening they had decided not to affiliate, but not to object if the meeting desired to allow, Mr. 'Pryor to address tho gathering. , On a show of hands being taken, tho Chairman announced that the decision to hear Sir. Pryor was unanimously carried. Mr. Pryor, who was received with applause, said he had come to Palmerston expressly to address tho dairy,factory owners. He proceeded to speak generally on co-opera-tion among employers to combat the encroachment of Labour -Unions, and tho advantages of such Unions, Tho Employers' Federation stood to demand a fair administration of the- labour laws of the Dominion. As the outcome of the, affiliation of employers during the past three years, they, had .had no harassing legislation. _ Tlioy were • also getting a more reasonable interpretation of (ho .labour laws than would have been otherwise possible. They wanted the National Dairy Association ,to join the Federation, firstly because it would strengthen the Federation, and secondly because it. would be of advantage to the Association and dairy employers. Mr. Pryor continued his address at length. ■ A motion of thanks was being put to the meeting when Mr. J. T. Lang urged that they should not disperso without joining tho Federation. To a man they should support it. (Apnlause.) _ A . • Mr. Vile, who had moved tho vote of thanks (which was seconded by Mr. Gane), thought that the motion should bo ■ passed, and the matter'bo allowed to drop. Mr. J. R. Scott (Dunedin), as an amendment to the vote of thanks, moved that tho Association join the Employers' Federation. Some slight confusion ensued regarding tho putting of the motion and amendment. ' Mr. F. J. Nathan, speaking with vehemonce, said: "This is the most important business' before the meeting, and it is ridiculous to nut it back. It is far more important than the concreting of your yards and all that'sort of thing. You f don't fully recog'nise how important it is." The Chairman: Oh, yes, wo do. A farmer remarked that there/might bo some differences of opinion 1 in tlie matter. To straighten out proceedings the-Chair-man asked that he be allowed to put the motion of: thanks first to tho meeting. Jlr. Nathan would be allowed to move his motion subsequently. Mr. Scott also withdrew his amendment. On this understanding the motion of thanks was carried unanimously. Mr. Nathan then moved .that it he a recommendation from this meeting that tho executive of the Association' affiliate with tho New ■ Zealand Employers'. Federation. Mr. Nathan submitted lengthy reasons for the affiliation, an important one being tho assistance they would receive in Arbitration Court, cases. ■ ' •

Mr. J: T. Lang (Palmerston), in seconding tho motion, said it was not tho best employees who were causing the trouble, but tho nondescripts who wero being disniissed, and the wasters. 110 recognised the great importance of fighting the labour agitators with tho best equipment. ■ Mr. O'Hara questioned whether the delegates present had the sanction of their codiVectors to support a motion of this kind. (Hear, hoar.) The discussion was protracted for upwards of an hour, the question of funds to fight Arbitration Court cases, and a counter proposal to form separato unions, being 111 turn introduced. ' , In putting tho motion tho Chairman said that unless serious obstacles prevented tho executive, olfcet would bo rapidly given to tho recommendation. Tho motion was carried with only two dissentients. Tho matter will bo further discussed at' a meeting of factory managers tomorrow afternoon.

MEETINC OF DAIRY EMPLOYERS. TO FIGFIT LABOUR DEMANDS. A meeting of representatives of dairy companies, and generally of employers concerned in the dairy-workers' dispute, was held this

afternoon in the Conference Hall at tho Manawatu A. and P. showgrounds. Mr. F. J. Nathan was elected chairman. About 50 employers were present. Tho meeting, it might bo explained, is tho outcome of tho decision of the National Dairy Association yesterday to join tho Employers' Federation. Tlio Chairman said the mooting had been called to consider tho recommendations of the Conciliation Board in tho dairy industry dispute. Tito employees had made certain demands. Tho employers had done everything to get tho disputo referred direct to tho Arbitration Court, but were unablo to owing to tho necessity of having to cito all dairy companies, including small companies in out-of-the-way places. Replies from these places had not come to hand in the time stipulated under the law, and they had had therefore to go to the Conciliation Board. They had refused to appear, but certain subpoenas had. been issued compelling attendance. It was now desired to work up a case for submission to tho Arbitration Court. , 'Tho Chairman then read the demands as drawn up by the Conciliation Board. These wero discussed. He also read, in camera, tho proposals tho employers had decided to concede. In tho course of subsequent .discussion, Mr. J. T. Lang said the employers had from the first viewed the situation of the smaller dairy concerns. . • After further discussion the following were appointed a committee to assist in collecting evidence to lay before the Arbitration Court: —Messrs. Hope-Johnston (Waverley), Wise (Rongokok'ako). Fisher (Tarata), J. T.- Long (Palmerston North), Perry (Rongotea), M'Farlano (Pahiatua), Parsons (New Zealand Dairy Union 1 !, O'Hara (Norsewood), and F. J. Nathan (Palmorston North). This concluded the meeting. A NEW ASSOCIATION. | DAIRY MANAGERS UNITE. A. meeting to form a dairy factory managers' association, largely attended, was held this afternoon, Mr. J. R. Curie (Hawera) being elected chairman. The meeting was tho outcome of .tho dissolution of the Butter and Cheesemakers' Association. Tho' latter dissolved yesterday owing to its usefulness having been impaired by some of its members joining employees' unions. It was resolved to'form an association, and 39 names were handed in. The* rules of the defunct society wero adopted with little amendment. "Officers were elected as follow: —President, Mr., W. Dempster; secretary ,_ Mr. J. Curio; vice-presidents, Messrs. Middleton, West, ' and Rockell; committee, Messrs. Cooper,. Murray, O'Dea, M'Donald, Young, LecS, and Dunford; auditor, Mr.. Turton.

It was resolved that the Association recommond tho Manawatu and Dunedin A. and P. Associations to store show exhibits, in the dairy factories classes in the cool stores in the respective districts in which entries are made, arid where cold storage is available, and, further, that tho. A. and P. Associations request the officers in charge of sqch stores to, furnish a record of the temperature' at which such exhibits are kept, these records to be handed to the Managers' Associations.

Mi-. Middletori urged tho advantages of the butter exhibits analysed. _ Dairy managers wanted to'be acquainted with the constituents of these butters. ' They wanted to know, for instarice t how much moisture, preservative, fat, etc., was contained in the butter. Such, analyses would be educative. suggestion was that samples of tho butter bo sent along for analysis, and that the results be > posted on tho exhibits as'in tho case of tho grade rate. He moved that tho Agricultural Department be recommended to havo all butter stored for competi-tion-analysed, and that the reports bo posted up on tho exhibits at tho shows.

The motion was seconded by Mr. Dumford. -It was questioned whether tho Department would undertake the 1 analysis.' The , motion was carried. < Hearty appreciation was expressed at the trouble Mr. Singleton and his staff had taken to show managers and employees round the butter, and cheese exhibits at the show, and hearty votes of thanks were passed, ANNUAL REUNION. The Dairy Factory Secretaries celebrated their annual reunion this evening by holding a dinnfer in the Empire Hall, Mr. J. Harkness presiding. There was a good attendance, this being tho first gathering of tho •kind held since tho inceptioli of tho Winter Show.