DAIRY CONFERENCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 9760, 24 June 1892, Page 6

DAIRY CONFERENCE.

[Pxb Pbess Association.! DUNEDIN, June 22. The Dairying Association carried resolutions that factories should ship the largest'portion of thoir cheese and butter to Great Britain, from November to April for cheese, and from October to February for butter. The Minister for Agriculture regretted his inability to attend, but said that Mr Sawers would attend as nn expert and advise. The suggestions of the Conference would receive full consideration, and, if practicable, would bo embodied iu a Bill to bo submitted to Parliament. Mr Sawers mentioned that Government intended to appoint two additional dairy instructors this season, and that it had been decided to remove the duty on parchment paper used for packing batter. Mr T. Brydone, the Chairman, in the course of his speech said that Loudon was likely to be the ta’ost market so go to. Higher prices had been got in the Province?, but trial shipments otherwise than to London had not proved so satisfactory. Messrs Angus and Birch were appointed Directors, and the meeting then resolved itself into a dairying conference. A resolution was passed that all factories should send in a guarantee to ship through the Association a fair quantity of their output, and put the Association in a position to deal with the Shipping Companies. It was resolved that Jd per lb for butter and cheese in cool chambers, and -Jd in frozen chambers is a fair freight, Mr W. B. Watters gave a lengthy and interesting report on the cargo of the lonic, by which he had gone Home. He pointed'oufc that he had placed thermometers about the skm or lining of the ship, and found there was sometimes a difference of eight degrees between these and the ship’s, proving that there was no current of air through the cargo aud no insulation. Exhaust air from the refrigerating chamber was used for the cool chamber, "and as it passed through the cheese chamber he found it strongly impregnated with acidulated gases. In hoc.latitudes amxnoniatea gas was found to arise from bones, hides, &c., proving that isolation from the general cargo was not complete. Mr Watters recommended that cheese should be well dunnaged, to allow a free current of air, which should be maintained throughout the voyage. Ha attributed many of the failures to the stoppage of the refrigerating engines during bad weather, causing exhaust air to be reduced with a consequent rising of temperature. Cool chambers at present were simply a farce. He recommended the appointing of a person to see the cargo properly shipped and stowed; the appointment of an agent in London to take charge of dairy produce, as at present it is kept in store without proper ventilation, mixed among bones, hides, &c., where the temperature rises to ninety degrees; that a shed should he built similar to the one for American produce, where the temperature never rises above sixty-two; and to ssk the shipping companies to arrange for a proper distribution of air under and through tho cargo to dispel the heavy noxious gases that are the cause of the trouble. It was resolved that till the cool chambers are properly constructed it is safer to send butter in freezing chambers. The following resolutions were adopted: —“That the Government be asked to provide or assist in providing cool storage at the main ports of shipment. That the Government ba asked to provide or assist in providing a dairy produce store in London, where shipments would be landed and reported on by qualified men. That M.H.E.’a be asked to use their influence in the House and otherwise to have the carriage by rail on dairy produce reduced to grain rates; also, that a delegate interview the Government on the same subject. Thai the Government be asked to arrange with the Railway Department for lower rates on cream and butter going to the ‘nearest’factory, with a view to developing the factory . system among small out-lying settlers. That the Government be asked to deal with the question of branding produce off the lines 1 indicated in the annual report. That the meeting does not recommend the Government to adopt the bonus system, either on produce exported or factories erected. That a meeting be convened of both cheese and butter makers, when papers will be rtad on the question how milk and cream should ba paid for, and discussed. That the Committee make an effoifc to obtain more members in the North Island, and that the name of the Association be then altered. '1 hat the Insurance Companies be approached with the view of obtaining policies covering partial damage.”