DAIRYMEN IN CONFERENCE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXI, Issue 146, 21 June 1906, Page 2

DAIRYMEN IN CONFERENCE.

• MATTERS AFFECTING THE INDUSTRY. | (From Our Special Reporter.) PALMERSTON, 20th June. The annual meeting of the National Dairy Association, which was adjourned yesterday evening, was resumed this afternoon in the Agricultural and Pastoral Association's lecture-hal). Mr. Foreman again presided, ond there was another largo attendance of' members. ■INSPECTION -OF COWS. Mr. ' Bro\Vn '(Midhirst Dairy . Company) moved, "That the Stock Inspectors inspect, all cows supplying milk- to dairy factories twice a" year," The mover urged- the advisability of the practice. Referring incidentally to the Stock Inspectors, he said that many of them did not really know as much as the dairy farmers did ; but still he thought that his proposal would do a lot of good. Mr. Brodie (Eltham) said that they would have to be very careful before going in for any more inspection. There were plenty of opportunities to get stock looked over as things were now. The proposal, if carried, would entail a great deal more bother and in all. probability a lurthor tatf. Mr. Gane (Normanby) said he quita agreed with the last speaker. If there was to bo suoh inspection as proposed it should bo carried out by a veterinarian who Was a duly qualified man. After some further short discussion the motion was lost, AMENDMENT IN THE LAW. Ml". Dingle (Stratford Dairy Company) moved, "That in view -of the restrictions in the working of. the Companies Act, 1903, as applied to cooperative dajry companies, it is therefore? advisable that a special. Act be passed for such companies or suitable amendments made in the Companies Act/ 1903, and that immediate steps bo taken .by the North and South Island ass6ciations to bring the ahiendment to a successful issue, the costs to ba borne by the producer in proportion to output." Ho strongly urged that the motion bo carried, as something of the sort was badly needed. The motion was seconded by Mr Whittaker (Rongotea), who also warmly supported it. Mr. Templer (Midhirst) said he was strongly in favour of the proposition. The presonjt Act was not suited at all to dairy companies, and should be amended. Mr. Harkness (secretary) said that some alteration in the law was undoubtedly necessary. The Act of 1903 was not made for co-operative companies at all. (Hear, hear.) The sooner a new Act was passed the better it would be for the industry. The chairman said that the present Companies Act did not provide tho powers required by the dairy industry, and that some alteration should be tnade. However, he did not see why they should pay for the amendment. The motion was then carried without dissent. AN EXPERIMENTAL STATION. Mr. ,Boddie (Eltham) 6aid he desired to bring up the question of an experimental station again. It would be a great mistake .for the association to disperse without passing some motion on! the matter. He moved, "That the meeting again strongly urges upon the Government the necessity for providing an experimental station and research laboratory so as to provide means 'for scientific research wholly in the interests of the dairy industry. Ho said that a, similar sort of motion hnd been passed before, but that no notice had been taken of it. He did not bother so much about a dairy school, so long as the research laboratory was established. This colony, in his opinion, was about fifty years behind ;such countries as Canada in this matter.. Dairy If armefs should go to the Government and actually demand 6uch a station 'being erected, as it was absolutely imperative. They should not have tos go to Canada foV all their statistics, as has to be done at present. The motion waa seconded by Mr. J, Scott (Dunedin). He spoke strongly in support of the proposition. There had been no good reason shown by the Government as to why the station should not be put up. The motion waa carried without dissent. PASTEURISATION. Mr. J. Marx (Mangatoki) moved, "That the present average conditions in dairying in New Zealand make pasteurisation practically impossible from a sound financial point of view ; further, that whilst the skim-milk would be improved in the direction of destroying injurious bacteria, its quality as foodstuff for calves would be seriously impaired." lie suid he was eorry to have to diner from Mr. iCinsella'a well-known opinions on the matter. Compulsory pasteurisation would cause a great mriouiil of bother. Mr. Gahe (Normanby) seconded the motion. Pasteurisation would be very expensive, and would mean that the dairyman might just as well shut up eihop. The chairman said ho hardly saw tho need of the motion, seeihg that there was at present no proposal definitely made to compel the adoption of the practice. Mr. Kinsella Strongly urged that the practice was absolutely necessary. He did not believe that the quality, of the pastedrised skim-milk would be in any way impaired, but that on the other hand its value would be enhanced. Mr. Marx then withdrew his motion, stating that his object had been attained in the discussion which had taken place. GENERAL. Several other notices of motion down on the order paper were withdrawn by permission, the' attendance having dwindled down to a very small number. Before the meeting finally closed this afternoon, the chairman thanked tho Dairy Commissioner, Mr. KihEella, for his attendance and the valuable information he had been always quite willing to afford. A Very hearty vote of thanks was also passed to the Chairman. Two excellent addresses were given at the Dairy Conference to-night in the presence of a good number of those interested. Mr. T. W. Kirk spoke on "Potato Culture, w^th Special Relation to the Dteeas'e." He strongly urged tho extension of the practice of spraying, saying that by it some 85 or 90 per cent, of the crop would be saved in good condition. He quoted figures to show what could be effected by some improvement on the present methods. He said that in the season 1904-5 about £263,320 had been lost, and in 1905-6 the amount Jose to £268,340. Much of this could haye 1 been prevented by proper spraying, i Mr, . Lowrie, bi Lincoln College, gave a paper on "Feeding 1 for Milk." He said that this was a Very much neglected subject. By proper attention the

colony's output could be"' increased by 30 per cent. His advice was to pay more attention to the provision of really good pasturage, and especially to the proper winter and spring feeding of stock. He indicated the way in which this could be carried out. Both lecturers were heartily applauded after being listened to ■ very attentively. * — •