DAIRY INDUSTRY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 10 November 1924, Page 8

DAIRY INDUSTRY.

MAINTAINING STANDARD

RETIRING INSTRUCTOR’S COMMENTS.

AUCKLAND. November 6

Matters of special interest to the dairying industry were discussed by Mr. J. Petersen, who has accepted an appointment as dairy expert to the Argentine Government.: Mr. Petersen was for many years casein expert and dairy instructor to the - New Zealand dairy division. He came to the Dominion from Denmark about twenty years ago, and after some years’ service here proceeded to the United States to take a position in a private darying concern. On his return'he again joined the dairy division. ,

The great development in the dairying industry in New Zealand during his association with the dairy division progressive expansion of the induswas emphasised by Mr. Petersen. The try, he considered, was due to the manner in which factory managers and officers of the division had cooperated in their efforts to improve the quality of the output. This was particularly noticeable during the last few years. The manner in which the quality of butter had been improved during a period of abnormal increase in production-, he said, spoke volumes for the efforts of those engaged in the manufacture and grading. A gratifying feature of New Zeaand butter and one that inspired confidence in buyers was the remarkable uniformity in quality that had been obtained. A matter of detail that was also of the highest importance was the control of the moisture co.ntent. The output from' the Dominion had practically been standardised through the efforts of the dairy division. .It was now the most uniform of any butter in the world and compared with that of a few years ago represented a gain of at least £IOO,OOO a year to the producers, This .also had been accomplished during a period of great expansion in production and progressive improvement in quality. Such achievements were only possible through the combined efforts of the officers of the department and the factory managers. . \ Mr. Petersen paid a high tribute to the people engaged in the dairying industry in the Dominion, saying that the factories were the most up-to-date. in the world, and company directors were imbued with the spirit of progress and readily found money to keep their plant and equipment in all respects up to the highest standard. The managers were highly skilled and manifested great enthusiasm in maintaining the quality, of the output This- was reflected in the wonderful keeping quality of butter, which after being in store for six or eight months showed practically no deterioration The importance of maintaining this standard. ■ said Mr. Petersen, could not be too greatly emphasised. . The investigation of the Dairy Produce Control Board’s representatives in England had -even led carelessness and laxity in the handling of butter which would undoubtedly lead to deterioration. Trouble of this nature had also been experienced in the Dominion, but action was taken by the Control Board to remedy it. Similar action should be taken in regard to the handling overseas. Referring to the dairy division, Mr. Petersen said that after his evperience in other countries he considered that New Zealand had the best organised and most efficient dairy division in the world. Its officers were also the lowest salaried in the world. He was extremely sorry to leave New Zealand, mt he could not afford to stay in view of the good opportunities for advancement offered by other countries. The appointment of a New Zealand instructor to take charge of the Argentine dairy service suggested that the officers of the Dominion service were highly regarded in other countries. The comparatively poor salaries paid to officers of the dairy division here were inMUical to the interests of the industry. Those engaged in instructing and grading should be men of experience and possessing the highest skill in manufacturing methods, in addition, to -oientific knowledge. The division should be recruited from the best talent amonor factory managers, but under th e existing conditions this was impossible Dairy companies in general paid considerably better salaries to their mantis6';3 than the latter could hope to receive from the Department. Unless better inducement were offered to enter i the i^- ate , serv *ce, it would be extremely dinicnjt to maintain the strength of the division at a proper standard" Another matter that should receive tho immediate consideration of the authorities, said Mr Peterson was the «=t*iblishment of a State laboratory and experimental station for research Aork Anyth?ng of this nature -that bar! been accomplished was done bv individual companies. It was a wcvk C national importance, upon which , of olir Premier industry "rorelv depended, and should be undertaken bv the State