FACTORY MANAGERS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 169, 16 June 1927, Page 2

FACTORY MANAGERS

MEETING OF ASSOCIATION. REVIEW OF -PAST YEAR. Tho annual meeting of the New Zealand Dairy Factory Managers’ Association was held at tho Showgrounds last evening when the retiring president, Mr J. W. Rutherford-, of Edgecombe, presided over a gathering of some 60 members in the early portion of the evening, later giving way to Mr G. Woods, of Taranaki, the newlyelected president. Prior to the- business being entered upon, Mr Rutherford took the opportunity to extend a welcome to members and visitors. Ho invited nominations for membership, six new members being elected. ANNUAL REPORT. Reviewing the activities of the past season, the annual report stated: “It is satisfactory to note that tho association’s finances are in a sound position, while a further pleasing feature has been the revival of interest in the Auckland district and the enthusiasm displayed in the creating of managers’ conferences for all matters that assist in educating and instructing members to enable the best possible results to he achieved. With a view to getting every factory manager in the Dominion to become members, the Dominion secretary circularised all managers in the Dominion who were not members of the association, and was successful in getting some of these managers to join up. An endeavour to creato more interest in parts of tho South Island among managers by the formation of a branch in the Reefton district was undertaken by the secretary, but owing to the scattered district and the difficulty of managers getting away, nothing definite was reached in the matter. A communication has been received from the Southland and Otago managers regarding the suggested formation of a Dominion guild to embraco all managers engaged in dairy factories. An outline of the scheme has been forwarded to all provincial executives. During the year an invitation from the Australian Cheese and Butter Factory Managers and Secretaries’ Association was sent to our association, asking that we be represented at their annual conference in May and June. The executive and provincial executives, recognising that an interchange of visits between the two associations would be of mutual benefit, appointed the Dominion secretary to officially represent this association, and any other managers who could go were asked to attend. The butter graded during tho year ending March 31, 1927, was 1.367,875 cwts. as compared with 1,226,259. for the previous year. The cheese graded for year ending March 31, 1927, was 1,515,175 cwt. as compared with 1.462,386 for the previous year. Generally speaking the quality of New Zealand butter and cheese has shown a marked improvement this season. Factors have been operative in this connection which have tended to induce greater care on the part of the supplier to forward an improved quality of milk and cream, and to encourage factory managers and assistants to put forth greater efforts to attain tho best qualitv of product possible. Climatic conditions have varied somewhat between different dairying districts, and the effect of warm weather during summer and great growth of very succulent feed during autumn in some districts has produced conditions making it extremely difficult for factory managers to turn out a quality satisfactory to themselves. It is very pleasing, however, that such a satisfactory improvement in quality has been evidenced. DAIRY RESEARCH.

This subject lias been discussed by tho association for years. It will be recalled that approval was given about two years since for the erection of laboratories, and a small experimental dairy for this work. Plans were prepared and tenders called. The report of Sir Frank Heath on general research put tho whole question once more in the melting pot. Legislation with respect to the Agricultural College and scientific research was passed last session, and now it would appear that a commencement is actually to be made. Acting on a recommendation from the Taranaki provincial executive, the Dominion executive decided to adopt a badge for members. These have now been issued to all financial members of the association, and in future will take the place of members’ tickets. A new ribbon will be issued each year to financial members for attachment to badge. , The report was adopted, the chairman explaining that the issue of badges to members to be worn on the lapel of the coat would, the felt sure, be accepted as a pass into shows by A. and P. Associations. Air Alurrav (Taranaki), seconded by Air J. Taylor, moved that badges be issued to all past presidents and that facsimilies of all badges and ribbons be forwarded to all A. and P. Associations, the suggestion being acted upon. The halaqce sheet disclosed that the year had opened with a credit balance of £146 2s Id and had closed with a balance of £338 12s 2d. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The election of officers for the incoming year resulted Dominion president, Air George Woods (Taranaki) ; provincial executives, Alessrs E. C. H. Peterson (Auckland), E. J. Hall (Manawatu), A. lnglis (Taranaki), W. Delahunty (Hawke’s Bay), R. W. Foss" (Bush), J. Aliddleton (South Island), J. Brash (Wairarapa) ; secretary and treasurer, Mr A. F. Neilsou; auditor; Air W. E. Bendall. AIANAGERS’ HOLIDAYS. A remit from the Taranaki district urged that the conditions relating to holidays, as now appearing in tho schedule of salaries, be altered in that the word “fortnight” be deleted and the word “monthly” be inserted. Speaking in support of the remit Air Taylor instanced cases where managers, after working for twelve months, only obtained a fortnight’s holiday, whereas an assistant obtained three weeks’ holiday after eight months’ work. Mr Murray, while speaking sympathetically, moved that a diplomatic letter be sent to the chairmen of factory companies pointing out the hardship inflicted upon certain managers by reason of tho terms of the award. Air Neilson, speaking in support of the remit, mentioned that the refusal by the majority of companies to pay ■overtime to the working staff, resulted in considerably more labour falling upon tho shoulders of the managers by reason of the restricted hours of the members of the staff as enforced by the award. Factories, added the speaker, could well recompense the managers by increasing their holiday time by way of payment for their personal efforts. Some opposition was, however, forthcoming to the proposal, several speakers considering that the time Tvas inopportune to enforce such a proposal. When put to the meeting Air Alurray’s suggestion was carried. ~ IMPROVEMENTS EFFECTED. Air W. AI. Singleton, director of the Dairy Division, in adressing the gathering, expressed the hope that the future would find working conditions for man-

agers better and that managers and their staffs would be working together for the common good. Passing on to the newly-introduced regulations, the speaker congratulated tlie managers on the general improvement of butter and cheese which had been more pronounced during the past year than during the 26 years he had been in New Zealand which was indeed a credit to the supervision of the managers. The improvement, added Air Singleton, had been greater in the average grade of cheese than in butter. The development of tlie scheme for the holding of conferences of factory managers had also been a pleasurable feature of the past activities of tho association, but lie considered it would be preferable if managers themselves figured more prominently therein, which would give those conferences additional strength. Mr Singleton further thanked the managers for the support accorded the division in the introduction of tho new regulations in respect to cream grading. The division was endeavouring to protect the conscientious managers so far as was possible. “It is within the knowledge of all,” continued Air Singleton, “that science promises to play a big part before long and it should not be any great time before some assistance is forthcoming from that source. Science is a request after truth and when science is installed in' Palmerston North, the managers’ troubles wil vanish like frost before the rays of the sun. While this may be an over optimistic opinion, it is assured that an uplift to tho industry will* result by the assistance of scientific research when added to tltfß practical side of affairs.” A question was asked Air Singleton at the conclusion of his remarks as to whether he was in favour of amended regulations to permit of the manufacture of whey butter by the utilising of the waste fat froih the whey presses, such butter to be distributed in the Dominion. The director pointed out the disadvantages to he circumvented and considered a saleable article fit for consumption could not lie manufactured therefrom.