MILK AND CREAM GRADING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20251, 10 May 1929, Page 13

MILK AND CREAM GRADING.

CONTROL BY GOVERNMENT.

REQUEST BY DAIRY COMPANY.

[By telegraph.—own correspondent.] HAMILTON, Thursday.

A request that the Government should take over the control of cream and milk grading and the testing of milk and cream at factories throughout New Zealand was made to the Minister of Agriculture, Hon. G. W. Forbes, by representatives of the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company, Limited, in Hamilton last evening. The chairman of directors, Mr. Dynes Fulton, said it was felt that little further progress could be made in improving the quality of dairy produce unless the department exercised a greater measure of control over the grading than was the case at present. It was true that the grading of cream was compulsory throughout New Zealand to-day, but owing to the peculiar nature of the dairy business it appeared to bo almost impossible for the officers of the Dairy Division to enforce the regulations definitely and he hoped the Minister would cause the compulsory grading of the cream to be transferred from the companies' graders to the Government graders. Tho manager of the company, Mr. C. J. Parlane, said that testing was closely associated with grading, for while the testing remained in the hands of individual companies it no doubt contributed to tho keen competition for supplies and it enabled companies to collect cream over long distances without cost to the supplier. Mr. Parlane felt sure it would give a much greater measure of confidence to the dairyfarmers if the department had full control of the cream and milk samples and the actual testing of these at the end of the period. In referring to dairy farm instruction, Mr. Parlane said his directors advocated what is known as the " block" system, which meant that all dairyfarmers would be subject to instructions irrespective of the company to which they supplied cream, while an added advantage would be that all companies would contribute their fair share to the cost of this work, which was regarded as a national one. The Minister replied that he would have the points raised investigated by departmental officers. He would also be glad if these matters were discussed at tho National Dairy Conference to be held in June and to have the decision of that conference, for he had to remember that regulations were subject to criticism and what might meet the requirements in the Waikato may not ho well received in the South Isla'nd.