DAIRYMEN’S CONFERENCE

Evening Star, Issue 20196, 8 June 1929, Page 3

DAIRYMEN’S CONFERENCE

VARIOUS TOPICS DISCUSSED The annual conference of the South Island Dairy Association was concluded yesterday afternoon. Mr il. J. Middleton presided over a good attendance of factory representatives. ANOTHER PHASE OF TESTING. Air Rutledge submitted the following remit from the Farmers’ Dairy Federation (Invercargill) :—“ That this conference is of the opinion that, in order to establish confidence in the minds ol suppliers of the correctness of factory tests, it is advisable and essential that all testing be undertaken by officers ot th; Dairy Division of the Department of Agriculture, and recommends that the, department equip its own testing depots, in central situations, to which samples of milk or cream may be delivered daily or periodically as the case may be.” Mr Rutledge said that this was_ an honest attempt on the part of bis directors to give some peace of mind to suppliers who might feel that their test was not a correct one. They certainly bad the check-tester, but what was to prevent a dishonest manager from adding a few drops of water to the milk and so lower the test. He thought tiie remit was for the benefit of their industry'. The remit was lost. FARMERS’ MOTOR LORRIES. “ That in the opinion of this conference farmers should he exempted from the heavy duty license on motor lorries kept for the farmers’ own use.”

Mr Herron moved the remit. ’The smaller factories, ho said, were depending largely on motor lorries for bringing in"the supplies. As the law now stood a farmer who used a lorry which, with a load, weighed two tons, had to pay a heavy duty tax, exactly the same as a lorry driver running for hire on the country roads. The dairy farmer also had to pay rates, whereas the man who plied for hire ver\% often paid no rates at all.

Mr Y oung (Drummond) seconded the | motion, which was canned with one dis- ! sentient vote. | It was decided that the association should appoint someone to interview ! the Minister ( of Transport at a convenient opportunity. EDUCATION IN AGRICULTURE. “ That in view of the importance of the primary industries to the prosperity of the dominion this conference heartily approves of the endeavour of the Minister of Education to have the instruction in our schools given a dis- 1 tinct agricultural bias.'’ ! Mr Smith said that, at the present time the whole of their education was academic, and what proportion of their children were able to take advantage of it? He had taken np figures and found that only 10 per cent, of the scholars went to the high schools. This left 90 per cent, who got no further than Standard VJ. in tho primary schools. The speaker said that most of the education facilities were devoted to those going in for professions, ami the ■ time had arrived when better oppor- , tunities should bo given to children in | agricultural education. The primary industries had brought to the country .£55,000,000 last year, and, surely, they should endeavour to provide better education facilities for the children of the people who were producing this wealth. Tho speaker gave details of how children could bo instructed in agriculture. Tho whole trouble, he said, arose from the fact that their educational system had been dictated by the schoolmaster and the professor, and had nothing to do with the land. He thought they should support the present Minister 'of Education in the efforts ho was making to give an agricultural bias to the education of their future citizens. (Applause.) The motion was carried. CONGR AT ULATOR V. Mr Fisher moved that the honorarium of the president bn fixed at flic same amount as last yea?-, the motion being carried. Mr Fisher then moved that they accord a hearty vote of thanks to the president, members of the executive, and the staff, for tho capable manner in which they had looked after the interests of the association during the year (Applause.) Mr Dunlop seconded the motion. He hoped that Mr Middleton would be long spared to hold his office of president. (Applause.) The motion was carried by acclamation.