NATIONAL DAIRY ASSOCIATION

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11714, 25 July 1901, Page 6

NATIONAL DAIRY ASSOCIATION

- [BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] : . . i Palmerston : Noiitu, Wednesday..' ■ 'The annual meeting of the National Dairy Association was commenced to-day. Tha president, speaking to the report and bal-ance-sheet, , said the association's affairs wera in a flourishing condition. . The membership was now 58, as against 48 last vear..-:,. The turn-over 12 months ago amounted to £6000,' whereas for' the year just* ended it totalled about £30,000. -Messrs.; Harkness, Dive, and Foreman were re-elected directors. * Resolutions were carried that the association take into its earliest consideration the advisahieness .of preparing a. r contract on \a' basis equitable to shipper and buyer ; that the Government be ; urged to enforce : the Dairy Industry Act and its regulation? re-, specting short weight of butter and cheese, Government weights to be accepted as final between producer, /consignor, and buyer; that the Minister for Railways be asked to reduce freights jon dairy, salt to the same rate as that' charged on tho conveyance of salt • for bacon factories ; that the Minister for Railways be asked to apply to the carriage of dairy produce to 1 the port of export the principle now in force in connection with charges on fruit and cream, and in fulfilment of his assurance that a uniform rate for a specific distance be adopted by the Railway Department. : The secretary mentioned that plans and specifications have been prepared for the'' erection of freezing works at Wellington, at an estimated cost of £13,000. '. Resolutions were passed, "That the interests of the Dairy Association and-pro-' ducers would be furthered by controlling the freezing and ; storage at Wellington " • and " That a "meeting of delegates be held at a future date to consider the advisability of the of freezing works at '-.Welling-.' ton, connected with the dairying industry.". A j discussion took ' place ion the question of shortage in .weight of export ; butter, and it was '• suggested the - Government be asked to '.weigh the butter when! graded, and that certificates of weight and quality,,be issued ;to producers. A motion, "That the Government be ; asked to increase the subsidy granted, in connection with > the ] storage of butter," was negatived, and an amendment, " That ' the executive take no action in th« matter." was carried. ~lt was decided that the question of the taxation of co-operative companies' profits should be left to the executive of the association to deal with. A letter was read from; the Wellington Society for the Prevention of' Cruelty to Animals protesting against the practice of dehorning. An. animated discussion took place on the question, the majority,:of the speakers considering the practice humane and in the best interests of cattle. Eventually it was decided that while the meeting recognises that the society is acting from humane motives, the association consider the practice tended greatly to benefit cattle. In reply to a question, the president stated that endeavours had been made to- hold meetings of farmers in various centres to discuss important question affecting the industry. During ■ the . afternoon * a paper was read "by Mr. Wilkie, Government. veterinarian, on the improvement of the breed of dairy cows. ■ .;,;, - ; '- - ' : -