NATIONAL DAIRY ASSOCIATION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7064, 25 July 1901, Page 4

NATIONAL DAIRY ASSOCIATION.

On resuming after the luncheon adjournment, consideration of the advisability of erecting refrigerating works was resumed.

Mr J. W. Foreman moved, That this meeting is of opinion that the interests of Dairy Companies and producers would be furthered by controlling the freezing and storage at the port of Wellington prior to »hipment, and if those immediately connected with it express approval of the scheme steps could be taken by the Association to convene a meeting of delegates at Palmerston North to consider the advisability of erecting freezing works at the port of Wellington for the above purpose.

The motion, was seconded by Mr W. Mitchell, of Cheltenham, and carried. Eeverting 10 the question of shortage in weigbc in.butter for export, discussed auring the mcning, Mr Kinsello, who was not present during the morning session, stated that he had weighed some of the boxes of butter on show in the dairy exhibition to see how they had stood the- two months' storage in Wellington. They had taken the boxes at random but in no cases had the weight been short while one box was three pounds'overweight. His experience was that shortage was mostly experienced with milled butter, although a few boxes of factory butter had also been found short. He pointed out that the question was oue of extreme importance to both manufacturer and buyer, and added there was just as much trouble with over weight as under weight, that is so far as tho producer is concerned,.. The question should receive every attention at the hands of directors of companies and also private concerns Asa means of dealing with the difficulty lie suggested that at each of the grading ports official weighers should be appointed who would weigh a percentage ot J)oses of all lines coming forward, details of weighing could be supplied to producers, and it was possible that careful attention to the results obtained would overcome the difficulty. Mr D. Nathan stated his brother had gone into the question recently in England, and had taken good care to have scales tested, and all precautions taken to ensure accuracy. The speaker stated he could name at least twenty factories that had suffered oithor from givingtoo much weight or from giving uMov weight. They wereall aware that nlhmg was gwen m London for overweight while 10 per cent was deducted for short weight. A suggestion made to ;Mr itinsella was of great importance. They were already supplied with grading certificates by the Government, and'tho suggestion was that Government should be asked for. a certificate of weight and thus give producers certificates of both quality and weight. The position Was one of importance to the buyer wha expected'to obtain at least 661bs: of butter, and it was not fair to him to find the boxwas short weight on arrival in London. '.Through no fauft of his own the buyer had to stand the loss for shrinkage and it was a serious matter. Fuitboncrnarks of a like'nature wOl c mado by Mi .Nathan; after!which the chairman read to him the motion on the subject that had been passed, in the morning and the discussion terminated. The.next question: was that of Govern, lnen'inspeotioh of dairys and stook yards, i - <; > Duke-streot.

':-■'■ Mr- F. :| Gr'eyille, :;.ih': thef course \ of' his' Temarks,'stated that-he was well-known [~as: an advocate, of. clean milk and he. I thought factory, managers;'.and those directly aoncerned in the industry had no more; important question to face. Reference was made to the milking-shed and stook yards of Mr S. W. Luxford at Awapuni, whioh were described as model yards and buildings, and ho questioned the propriety of paying Mr Luxford the same price for milk as that received by -farmers'whose buildings and yards were dirty and full of mud! '

Mr Murray : Jackson, of Feathersfcon, endorsed the-previous speaker's remarks, while Mr Kinsella, who agreed with the absolute necessity; of inspection, con sidered it would notbo wise to place the onus, of inspection upon Government officials. He thought that by taking the necessity of inspection from-factory managers they would be facing a great trouble. . ■ . . ' . ■ ■- "■ . . :< ...

Mr Ponnington (Eangawahia) referred to the trouble settlers had in the back blocks of getting metal, while Mr Bansome (Rongotea) narrated the experience of Kongotea settlers in the same direction and the steps they had taken to overcome it. : ' '. ; . V.-

The President stated the next business was to ascertain the feeling of tlie members _ with regard, to the Goyernment subsidy granted in connection with the storage of butter. . - ' ■

Mr J. Brown (Oarterton) moved, That Government should be asked to increase the subsidy to 3£.' It had been reduced to 2£kst year.; ..'•'■■.-'

The motion was seconded by Mr Dingle. :

Mr Joll moved as an amendment and Mr Eansome seconded, That the executive take no action in the matter.

A long discussion followed, at tho termination of which the amendment was declared carried.

It was decided that tho question of taxation of co-operative companies' profits by the Government be left to the Executive of the National Dairy Association to deal with in the manner they consider best. ■; > •■■ ■".-■■. -

A letter was received from the Wellington Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, protesting against the practice of dehorning on the ground that it was painful to the animals. The President, in speaking to the question, said he was perfectly satisfied that cattle benefited by being dehorned. When a herd was dehorned its disposition entirely changed/ The cattle became more domesticated and saved themselves an enormous amount of injury. The President's remarks were endorsed by other speakers, after which it was decided, on the suggestion of Mr Jas, Stubbs, that while this meeting recognises that" the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is acting from humane motives in making suggestions in reference to dehorning, the Associa tion considers that the practice is a very great benefit to cattle.

In reply to Mr Jackson (Featkerston), the President said the Executive would endeavour to hold meetings of farmers in various centres to discuss questions of importance concerning the industry. The meeting then adjourned.