CHIEF DAIRY GRADER

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6804, 7 January 1929, Page 10

CHIEF DAIRY GRADER

Mr A. A. Thornton Dead GREAT WORK FOR INDUSTRY Regret will be felt at tho death of Mr A. A. Thornton, chief dairy produce grader for many years. _ He died last week at the residence of his son-in-law, at Morrinsville. It is to the work of men like Mr Thornton that New Zealand owes its proud position in the markets of the world for its buittor and its cheese. Some years ago there were sundry disputes between vested interests and Mr Thornton over the matter of grading, somo of them holding that he was too strict, but he always came out on top, and tho Dominion can bo thankful that it has officers of such undoubted integrity. Mr Thornton 7 s strong point "was that his work was his hobby. Ho was never happier than when judging batter and cheese, talking about them, or to men who had made them. Ho had wide knowledge of his business, and his judgment was universally accepted without a murmur by everybody connected with our primary industries. Probably no man did more to instruct and encourage the factory managers. He was always ready and willing to give the mhints that would enable them to turn out even better butter aud cheese. At every annual conference of iactoiy managers he was always one of tho keenest people present, and his talks on butter and cheese and grading were probably the most important part of such gatherings. All tho managers had the highest opinion of his wide knowledge of tho industry and all will have kindly recollections of tho interest he took in them and t-hoir work. _ Mr Thornton’s friends showed their opinion of him when ho retired from tho Government service last year, and presented him with valuable evidences of their esteem, including a cheque for a large amount. Even after his retirement Mr Thornton continued to take tho keenest interest in New Zealand’s butter and cheese trade. - Among his personal friends Mr Thornton was much esteemed. Born, within sound of Bow Bells, he was always proud of being a Cockney, and it is typical of the English race that, a man born within tho heart of the biggest city in the world should havo such an enthusiasm for the outdoor life of his adopted country and should have doue so much to help the farmers in making a reputation that is now known all over the Empire. He will bo missed by everybody who has tho interests of dairying at heart and especially by those who kne whim personally. Many a man on farm and in tho towns will thin kkindly of his “AVell, laddie,” with, which ho generally introduced some helpful remarks. Mr Thornton was 62 years of age. He came to the Dominion at tho ago of 18 and started produce-grading work, an which he emained 42 years. For 33 years ho was chief grader, and he was stationed at Lyttelton, Wellington, Dunedin, Bluff and Auckland. Since his retirement IS months ago he had been in indifferent health, and a month ago he went to visit his daughter, Mrs S. S. Russell ,at whose residence he passed away suddenly. Ho is survived by his wife and by his daughter, Mrs. Russell. Mr A. E. Thornton, of Auckland, is liis father, and a sister, Mrs. Atthill, lives in Melbourne.