The Gisborne Times MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1934. THE PROBLEM OF RESEARCH IN DAIRYING.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXI, Issue 12399, 12 November 1934, Page 4

The Gisborne Times MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1934. THE PROBLEM OF RESEARCH IN DAIRYING.

One would require to be very much of a-n optimist to suppose that immediate financial relief is to he the happy lot of the dairying folk as, a result of the passage through Parliament of the Agricultural , (Emergency Powers) Rill. In strict fact, the most that can be Hoped for, in the meantime, is that the projected Commission of Agriculture nmy hit upon some plan for expanding, markets which has escaped tho Dairy, Board. How much, or how little,, likelihood there is of such a happening may be left to the imagination.' As mqtters now stand, the Commission is. not empowered to take from the Dairy Board (or from any other export board) powers at present vested in it except after consultation. , It will be seen, therefore, that the Commission has, been robbed of its right to over-ford. In many, other ways, too, the Government has weakened from the attitude which it originally adopted. No longer is , it intended tliat dairy-fainners shall be subject', to the whims of instructors who were to have been sent out on ,to tlie. farms to teach them their business. In like manner, dairy factory.,companies are not to be harassed, as had, at the outset, been laid down in the measure. . Seemingly, - too, 'tlie. Government. became afraid, to, insist upon the licensing of dairy-farmers aiid dairy farms —a plan in line with the licensing of poultry growers and poultry runs, which has riot created enthusiasm and is probably being pveijoojked by ipariy engaged-in that industry. The Agricultural; (Emergency Powers) Bill was, in its’ original form, lundeniably- the most Socialistie measure ever introduced into

tlic Parliament of tills Dominion anil dai'ry-fanfters’ and* all others intdrettcd in the industry will i’ecl, relieved that/ ih r ■ tlie’ ■niain;* it ’Aim's rendered innocuous before.'jit reached ■ tliestatute Mole.: It really duels' Isboin pity that what iiiay prove .helpful to the industry could p-fot*. have been enacted without the use of t the suggestion ■ that'the me’asrtre was essentiai on ’ accouht .of the necessity ifor ■ securing an immediate; and Very, considerable improvement ‘in : the .quality, of thus Dolninion’s dairy; produce. In this connection,: tlie 'general impression must' be that harin'may have resulted atHbriio from tho cabled reports of the debates in Parliament.. If that should prove to ho the position,' New Zealand may find that, it ; will require to pay dearly in the .shape of lessened demand ,aiid lower prices for her crusade to place her, dairying industry oil a better footing.. .In Australia, the authorities, are going about solving problems • associated wifh, its dairying , industry in a very different manner.. Shortly put, . the Federal .Government is sending Mr. Loffus-Hills, ojic of,its.most brilliant agricultural studepts, abroad to obtain information concerning the most recent developments in dqiry research in the leading .countries of the world. Particular attention .will he, given to manufacture of. butter and to tlie production of butter suited to the various sections of tho English market. He will also investigate the use of dairy, by-products and methods ■ .of improving their quality apt! the- economic organisation of research, in dairying in various countries. While he is in Britain lie .will make bacterial examinations of the * Australiah butters when they arrive, in the flush period of the season. This work will be done to confirm indications obtained, from research conducted there to determine the main causes of deterioration of Victorian .butter in transit to Britain. It will be conducted at tlie Dairy Research Institute at Reading. After he lia.s visited Europe Mr, Loftus Hills will go to the United States, where he hopes to spend four months at the.lowa State Agriculture Experiment Station. In tho course of their research Mr. Loftus Hills and Mr. L. R. Sclmrp, another graduate of the school of agriculture, have conducted bacterial surveys at practically every butter factory in Victoria in the last few years, and their work has been Audited highly by factory managers. This work will he continued by Mr. Scharp in Mr. Loftus Hills’ absence. Noav Zealand might ivell take a lesson from Australia under this very important. heading.,in the interests of its dairying industry.