FACTORY MANAGERS CONFER.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 27 January 1927, Page 3

FACTORY MANAGERS CONFER.

GATHERING AT PATEA.

GRADING COIvtPETITION RESULTS. Approximately 7.05. dairy factor managers from all parts of the province, together .with a number of company directors'and officers of the dairy division were in attendance at the annual conference of the Taranaki branch of the New Zealand Dairy Factory Managers ’ Association held at Patea yesterday. The gathering assembled at the West Coast Refrigerating Company’s works at half-past eleven, when welcomes were extended by Mr A. H. Hodge (manager of the works) and Mr E. C. Wood (the local dairy produce grader). A suitable reply which expressed appreciation of the courtesies extended to the visitors was given by Mr J. L. Taylor, of Lowgarth, president of the branch.

The remainder of the morning was spent in inspecting the works and grading stores and competitions in butter and cheese grading were arranged under the supervision of the grading officers.

Thirty-four entries were received in the cheese grading competition, the results being:—

L. C. Thorburn (Whenuakura), 99pts 1 G. Woods (Ngaere), 984 2

J. McCall (Kohi), 97i 3 Contestants for the butter grading numbered 13. were: — G. Woods (Ngaere), 97§pts 1 C. McQueen (Manutahi), 97 2 A. J. Hopcroft (Normanby), G. Thorburn (Whenuakura), G. Meharry (Kakaramea), J. L. Taylor (Lowgarth), each 95A 3 At two o’clock the conference met in the Town Hall, where the Mayor of Patea (Mr P. S. Finlayson) expressed his pleasure in welcoming such a notable gathering of men engaged in the principal industry of the Dominion. “In common with other towns in New Zealand,’’ continued' Mr Finlayson, “Patea is fully alive- to the great importance of the country’s primary industry, and the townspeople are exceed-ingly-pleased to have you here to-day.” The arrangements made by Mr Hodge and his staff for the. instruction of the factory managers were, referred to in terms of appreciation by the president, who also thanked the company directors who . had contributed to the prize funds for the grading competitions. CONFEEENCE. ADDEESSES. Addresses dealing with the industry were given by Mr W. M. Singleton (director of the Dairy Division), Mr F. W. Grainger (export adviser to the Dairy Produce Control Board), Mr E. C. Wood (dairy produce grader, Patea), and Mr P, O. Yeale (scientist of the Hawera dairy laboratory). The secretary of the Dairy Produce Control Board (Mr T. C.. Brash) gave a brief resume of the steps being taken by the board to improve transport facilities, and gave particular attention to the -efforts of the board to secure better cool storage at the Home end. He remarked that the keynote of the addresses given during the afternoon was quality, and the board was anxious to help the dairymen towards the goal of improved quality. Each of the speakers was accorded ar. enthusiastic vote of thanks, the appreciation of the conference being voiced by the president. The addresses were followed by a general discussion, during which further helpful information was afforded. The vote of thanks to the president, which concluded the conference, was proposed by Mr Singleton, who took the opportunity of expressing the pleasure it had given him to be in attendance.