DAIRY CONGRESS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 90, 13 October 1937, Page 13

DAIRY CONGRESS

GATHERING AT BERLIN

NEW ZEALANDER'S NOTES

GERMAN EFFICIENCY

(From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, September 18.

New Zealand was represented at the eleventh Triennial World Dairy Conference in Berlin last month by Mr, H. E. Davis (London manager of the New Zealand Dairy Sales Division), Mr. F. H. Taylor (Inspector of Dairy Products), Dr. H. R. Whitehead (Massey Agricultural College), Mr. John Fisher (Southland), and Mr. Peter Petersen (Waikato). No fewer than fifty-nine countries' sent 3760 delegates.

Mr. Taylor, who made a short tour of certain districts in Germany after ffie conference, on his return to London said that the organisation had been excellent, and that the hospitality and kindness showered upon the delegates by their German hosts was at times almost embarrassing. Every detail was carefully thought out and provision was made for the comfort and convenience of the visitors. In each of the leading hotels, , for instance, a member of the Hitler Youth Organisation was permanently stationed during the congress period to attend to the needs of the guests. The'y had only to make their requirements known and all arrangements in connection with tickets and reservations for the various items on the congress programme were made for them—a service greatly appreciated.

Mentioning some of the outstanding aspects of the conference, Mr. Taylor said that a novel feature, in the, form of headphones, was introduced in the lecture halls, The phones ,were attached at each seat, enabling the delegates to listen to the lecture in either English, French, or German, since it was delivered in these languages in separate rooms and synchronised with the lecturer speaking in his own language in the Assembly Hall; Thus, the tedious necessity of translating the lectures into three languages was obviated. QUALITY TEST FOB BUTTER. "An exhibition was also held at the same time as the congress meetings," said Mr. Taylor. "There were stands and displays of dairy produce and machinery from fhe various countries. We were particularly interested in a quality test for butter, twenty countries competing and entering 320 samples. A group of international experts was appointed to judge, The butter was arranged in such a manner that nobody could say whether it was cask or box butter. Every exhibit was placed in a large cabinet, having a glass cover over each sample, and the atmosphere within the cabinet was under control throughout the whole period of the exhibition. The judges were grouped six in a section, Each section was allotted about thirty samples to judge. Three judges would start from Sample No. 1 to Sample No. 30 and three from Sample No. 30 back to Sample No. 1. The points allotted were theri compared and butters which showed outstanding differences in pointings were again submitted to the judges under the supervision of a senior judge.

"The German pointing system, which gives a maximum of twenty points, was iised. In order to accustom the judges. to 1 this system an opportunity was afforded us—prior to the judging—to visit a cool store and have a preliminary trial with some butter samples under the guidance of the German experts. No public announcement was made in regard to the placing of the butter exhibits, but the countries concerned were advised of their respective positions and the eight highest scoring entries were published in their alphabetical order. They were Austria, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Finland, Netherlands, Norway, and U.S.A. New Zealand, I may add, was not represented by. an exhibit. "Interesting study trips were arranged for the delegates. They consisted of short local tours during the period of the congress, visits being paid to milk supply depots, local dairies, machinery manufacturing firms, and dairy stables. After the congress a number of more lengthy tours were arranged, affording delegates an opportunity of seeing further afield and obtaining an insight into the agricultural conditions of Germany. , INTENSE CULTIVATION. "The first thing that impresses the visitor to Germany when once he leaves the confines of the towns is the intense cultivation which is being carried out. Every available acre is being utilised. There are no overgrown hedges and space occupying fences. There was much approval for the results of the labour service system. Much could be said about the aims and objects of this system but this is.not the opportune moment for discussing the question beyond stating briefly that by this system it is proposed to bring under cultivation thousands of square miles of land which at present are fallow and uncultivated. "Germany is endeavouring to' support herself, and it is claimed that over 5,000,000 acres of land are lying waste and idle, and moreover, much of the present land under cultivation could be improved by irrigation or by draining. These lands will be given attention by the labour service. The roads traversed by our motorcoach had also been constructed under this service and they left us filled with amazement at the speed and j safety with which motor transport travelled, "Large dairy factories, cheese factories manufacturing various types of cheese, and also experimental stations were visited, and at the latter it was learned that German scientists are seeking fresh fields for the utilisation of dairy by-products and the elimination of waste. Our only, regret upon such a visit was the limited time at our disposal for absorbing all the information available. ,

"The New Zealand Government extended an invitation to the International Dairy Federation to hold its next congress in New Zealand in 1940. However, the Austrian Government had apparently lodged an invitation prior to the receipt of that from New Zealand, and it was therefore decided to hold the next congress in Vienna. Should it still be the desire of the New Zealand Government to extend an invitation to congress for 1,043 it may be accepted that she has prior claim and will be given every. consideration."