GRADING OF CREAM.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 6 August 1926, Page 4

GRADING OF CREAM.

PROVISIONS OF THE BILL

(by TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

WELLINGTON, Aug. 5. The Hon. O. J. Hawken moved the second reading of the Dairy Industry Amendment* Bill, popularly known as the “Cream Gracling Bill.” The Minister explained that the measure' was one empowering the Government to make regulations requiring the owners of dairy factories to pay different prices for different grades of milk and cream supplied. It also enabled the Government to fix the ‘minimum amounts by which prices = shall vary for different grades. Regulations in regard to the grading of cream may provide for the classification of cream according to the percentage of biitterfat therein, and payment may be required to be made in accordance with a scale based on such classification.

The existing provisions prohibiting the export of butter containing more than 16 per cent, of water are amended by adding the words “or less than 80 per centuQi of butter-fat.” It is laid down that no dairy company is to be registered under the Companies’ Act under any name which includes the word “co-operative,” or any word of like .significance, unless it is entitled to be registered as a co-operative dairy company under Part 111 of the Dairy Industry Act, 1908. The Registrar of Companies may take steps to remedy any existing errors in this respect by compelling companies to alter their names.

Other' sections relate to the apportionment of compulsory expenditure between the landlord and tenant of a dairy farm, the cooling of milk and the prevention of contamination of stored dairy produce. Mr. W. A. Veitcli (Wanganui) said that shareholders in any company, cooperative or otherwise, should with reasonable limitations have the right to'&se'eftuin tlie particulars of the business affairs of that company. ITe urged the Minister to put a clause in the Bill to seen re this right to shareholders. , *

iMr. D. Jones (Ellesmere) suggested that as there was some doubt about clause 8, which provides that no company shall describe itself as co-opera-tive uiiless it is actually so, the Bill should be referred to a special committee, which could take evidence and conside'r the proposal in all its aspects. The Leader of the Opposition endorsed this request, as it was calculated to shorten’ the proceedings in committee. 11’..;'I I ’..;' The Bill was read a second time and referred to the Agricultural Committee.