THE DAIRY REGULATIONS

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LVI, Issue LVI, 29 January 1909, Page 5

THE DAIRY REGULATIONS

DISCUSSED BY TARANAKI FARMERS.

SEVERAL AMENDMENTS RECOM-

MENDED.

There was a large meeting, numbering about 40, at Stratford on Thursday when dairy factory representatives and farmers assembled to discuss the proposed dairy regulations. Mr J. Marx was voted to the chair. Amongst those in attendance were Messrs Dive (member for Egmont), Hine (member for Stratford), and Okey (member for Taranaki). Apologies for non-attend-ance were received from Messrs Pearce and Jennings, Ms.P. j

Mr Marx explained that on September 23 a meeting considered the draft regulations which since that date had been greatly modified. Taranaki takes the lead in dairying, and what was done here would have considerable influence. Between the Department and farmers there should be harmony — not antagonism — as their interests were identical.

Mr H. J. H: Okey, M.P., did not think there was very much amiss with the dairy regulations as at present amended. The evidence taken before the Stock Committee, Avhich sat for 14 days, brought out that some regulations were required. Of all the witnesses to whom the speaker put the question none would agree to a cowtax. It was proposed that a. herd of more than 20 cows should pay 10s, and the owner of 21 cows would certainly object to paying as much as the man with 100 cows. He held that the principle of the cow-tax should be objected to. The pin-pricks (such as the name on cart, tag on can, etc.) had been removed, so that the draft regulations now before them were not unacceptable. ,

Mr J. Thomas (Ngaire) moved — That supervision under the regulations is unnecessary. Some of them, said the speaker, had carved out their homes, but others had not yet done so, and the regulations would be harassing. Besides, the regulations would be of no benefit. Mr Hurley seconded. Was it the inspectors, he asked, who had put the butter industry in the position it now stood? The inspectors had done good work, but the farmers had done their share. (Hear, hear.) It had been suggested that New Zealand would be able to compete with Denmark, but they could not do that even with the knickerbocker inspectors. Already the farmers were improving all along the line, and the grades were being stiffened up. Mr B. Dive, M.P., said he could not endorse the views of the two previous speakers. Some regulations were certainly necessary. , Mr Hall (Mangorei) objected to the regulations becaiise he did not see how an inspector could get at the method of milking; how he could reach the main point. Mr D. J. Hughes (Manaia) said he desired to show the loss which had occurred last season through making second-grade produce — a loss which could be avoided under proper supervision. At Patea 15 per cent, of the cheese and 3 per cent, of Hixe butter was second grade, which meant a loss of £1971. At Motorua the loss on cheese was £381 14s lid and on butter £156 12s. As they would see this loss was a pretty big thing, and was one they should try to overcome.

Mr Wells (Kaupokonui) agreed with Mr Hughes. _^ Mr W. Swadling (Kaupokonui) favored the regulations. The benefit was noticed immediately the regulations were announced. He knew some people who did a lot of clearing up and then took the inspectors round to show how clean they were. Cleanliness was necessary. He did not believe in any tax; he thought* the Government should give a man who milked three cows Is instead of asking Is tax. Ninety-five per cent, of the farmers took good milk, and they wanted the other 5 per cent, to do the same or stay away from the factory.

Mr Hurley: Why don't your managers take them in hand?

Mr Swadling said the managers had enough to do at present. They were, he said,, bound to have regulations — "but don't let the Government take too much power."

Mr Marx read letters from Mr T. R. Anderson (Mangatoki) ,and the Hurleyville Co. declaring themselves against the regulations. Mr Marx said he could not go quite so _ far as to condemn the regulations outright. There were unmistakeable instances where slight trouble would rectify >the evils. Regulations were undoubtedly necessary. It was the administration of them that so. many people feared, but after the discussion that had taken place he thought those fears would not be realised.

Mr J. B. Murdoch (Joll's) said the regulations would only affect a very few people.

Mr Deem, Stock Inspector, who was present by invitation, said the idea of the Department was to do educative work rather than police work. What they wanted was to give information regarding the construction of dairies, the handling of milk, and so on, rather than harass farmers. Every farm would be treated according, to its special conditions ; if circumstances prevented certain regulations being strictly enforced then that place would have to be treated on its merits.

Mr Brown (Midhirst) disagreed with Mr Deem, and quoted a certain case where he said the regulations were enforced with the ivtmost strictness and harshness, and it was this, he remarked, which aroused so much antagonism. If the view expressed by Mr Deem was to be followed in future he (the speaker) would welcome the change. There was no doubt that some inspection was needed, as farmers he knew were no cleaner now than years ago.

Mr Deem, in reply, said the case quoted by Mr Brown was where a pigsty was within 50 yards of the milkingshed; that was against the law, not against the regulations. Still there were many sties in Taranaki within 50 yards, but in cases where they were so situated that they could not contaminate the milk removal of the sties was not insisted upon.

Mr Brown (Makatawa) said the bad butter was not always caused by* a dirty milker. Managers knew well enough that the early spring gave the worst class of milk. It was a matter of feed flavors; not dirty milk. As to

! inspection, in the end they must fall back upon the manager, who should send dirty milk back. As showing the ineffectiveness of Government inspection, he said lie was continually getting threatening notices that he must clear his land of blackberry and ragwort. He slaved and slaved to get his place clean, but his neighbor, whose land was covered with these noxious weeds, simply did nothing. What sort of inspection was that?

Mr Hurley : He must be a Justice of the Peace. (Laughter.)

Mr Brown: Who are the inspectors? Simply creamery managers who have never had experience on a farm? If the right men were appointed it woiild be ail rigtn>. He did not want inspection; the dairy farmers had worked out their own salvation so far and were quite capable of getting a little further ahead. If 10 per cent, of the milk was bad it should be rejected; the way to improve suppliers was to touch them through their pockets.

Mr Wright (Lowgarth) said many managers would tell them that some milk was hardly good enough to fake, but hardly bad enough to send back. To reject it would mean' ructions; therefore outside inspection was best. But they did not want too much inspection.

Mr Thomas (Ngaire) warmly protested that New Zealanders were preeminently the cleverest dairy farmers in the world. The poor quality last year was due to heat, not dirt. He protested strongly against the abuse of farmers that had taken place. The Stratford factory manager would tell them that the best milk did not come from the cleanest farms; it was the detail— the hands and the cans— that counted.

The resolution (rejecting the draft regulations) was lost on the voices, and another motion, affirming that some scheme of regulation was necessary, was carried.

THE REGULATIONS

The regulations were then dealt with seriatim.

Clauses 2 to 7, which deal with registration and the cow-tax, were struck out on the voices. Mr Okey, M.P., unavailingly urged that registration was necessary, pointing ' out that the Department was preparing plans which dairymen could get upon registration so as to be sure that their buildings would comply with the regulations. In clause 8, sub-clauses a to c did not elicit much discussion. Mr Thomas (Ngaire) wanted the distance of prohibition between the cowshed and piggery reduced, but the distance of 50 yards was retained.

In sub-clause I the words shown in parentheses were deleted: "A yard, sufficiently large to hold the cows brought in at any time for milking, attached thereto (but divided therefrom by a partition or fence), the floor of such yard to be properly laid with concrete, wood, or other suitable material."

In sub-section J the length of the race, was reduced from 30 to 20 feet. In this connection Mr D. J. Hughes said the experience of farmers in his district who had put in a race was that the race was the finest thing they ever had.

Clause 9, which necessitates notice being given to the Inspector seven days before making any structural alterations to milk-sheds, etc., was struck out. , Clause 10 provides that people handling milk in, or about a dairy shall wear clean clothing.— Mr Adlam (Oakura) moved, That the clause be struck out. Mr Thomas (Ngaire) said the clause was an insult. — Mr Marx said they all knew of cases where clothes were, worn that should not be worn. (Applause.) The motion was lost and the clause confirmed.

Clause 15 was variously interpreted. It reads: "Every dairyman shall, immediately after the milk or cream is cooled, keep it in a cool place, and at all /times thereafter while it is in his possession securely cover it, and protect it from the sun's rays." What did "cover it" mean? From rats and cats was the answer. On the motion of Messrs Murdoch and Marx the clause was amended to read: . keep it in a suitable place and protect it from the sun's rays." After some ■ farther discussion the original clause was reinstated and adopted. Mr Dive, M.P., thought the meeting might give a suggestion as to the amount which ought to be paid by the owner of the land in connection with the erection of improvements under the new regulations. He asked if the meeting would affirm that the tenants ought to be compensated.

Mr Marx -thought the matter too wide for discussion at this meeting. Mr D. J. Hughes said there were a lot of leases from the natives now falling in, and some consideration should be given to the matter.

No direction was given. The balance of the regulations were approved, and it was decided to send copies of the proposed amendments to the Minister for Agriculture and the Taranaki members, asking that efforts should be made to have the same adopted.