CONFERENCE OF BUTTER MAKERS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 9107, 2 October 1890, Page 4

CONFERENCE OF BUTTER MAKERS.

Advantage has been taken of the presence in Melbourne of a large number of persons interested in the manufacture of butter to hold a conference in the board room of tho Lands department for tho discussion of matters connected with the butter industry, Tho conference, over which Mr A. Deakm, Chief Secretary, presided, met about a fortnight ago. . Mr Deakin said that it was on the suggestion of the Warrnambool Agricultural Society that this conference hod been invited to meet for the discussion of matters connected with the dairying industry. It was thought that the presence in Melbourne of so many persons connected with tho industry would offer an excellent opportunity of having one of those conferences of practical men to deal witxi strictly practical purposes which had during the past year or eo got to occupy such a prominent part in what might be termed departmental politics. In society and in industrial pursuits organisation counted lor everything—at tho present moment it was counting for a very great deal indeed and the industry in which ideas had been exchanged by this and other means, which were to a certain extent the basis of organisation, would be the means of success which other industries did not possess. In this industry great strides had been made in recent years, both in the methods of manufacture and tho moans and manner of placing their product on the market, for it must be remembered that tho interests of the producer and consumer were in many respects identical. Discussion on these matters could bo productive of nothing but good. This was one of the greatest 1 industries in the colonies. So stated this advisedly. Last year tho value of dairying products amounted to £3,000,000, while tho whole value of the gold industry was £1,000,000, and the return from grain was £868,000. Consequently the dairying industry stood far and away in advance. The basis of tbe dairying industry was of course the milk supply, and last year tho value of the milk supply was £-4,750,000 eteriing, of which one portion was worked up into dairying products already alluded to. In reference to this matter he might mention tho state of excellence he found in connection with tho industry iu the valley of the Po in Italy. They had there appliances for the purpose of taking out a portion of the water for tho milk, when it was put on tho train, and at tho other end they put exactly tho same amount of pure water into the milk. By this arrangement tho farmers had their milk reduced in bulk by one third, thus lowering tho cost of carriage, while the consumers got perfectly pure aud fresh milk. Tho various arrangements and appliances were of tho most perfect condition, and is was worthy of notice that the conditions of that valley in summer were similar to those which obtained in Victoria. There they had succeeded in manufacturing butter and cheese of world wide reputation, and the farmers found the dairying branch of their industry to bo the most profitable. There were many subjects which would be submitted for discussion and consideration. Ono of the most important would be the manner in which their goods were to be placed befor e the consumer. Only recently a letter had been received from Mr West, who bad visited America, in which that gentleman stated that tho farmers of tho United States attached great importance to the manner in which their products wore placed before tho consumers, and took considerable pains and wont to some expense in order to make their products attractive. The ‘ boumi system 1 would also bo considered, and the department desired the closest criticism on tho subject. On tho subject of factories he might mention that in November, 1888, there was not a single butter factory, while there wore now iu the colonies no fewer than 60 factories, in which £50,000 had been invested, and it was stated that these factories turned out butter 50 per cent better in quality forSO percent lesslabour than tbe farmers alone were able to produce. These factories took 6,250,000 gallons of milk, representing a payment of £IOO,OOO. From this milk butter was manufactured to tho value of about £IBO,OOO. So that it was evident the establishment of tbe factories wore of great value to the colony and tho farmers. The exportation of butter to tho mother country had opened up another market, and had resulted in bringing to tbe colony a sum of £30,000. He concluded with a hope that tho deliberations of the conference would prove of benefit to the industry. Mr D. Wilson referred to the fact that not many years ago he had introduced to the colony the cream separator, without which the manufacture of butter in factories would be impossible. The quality of the butter manufactured and the prices realised proved that tbe industry was a profitable one, os many of tho difficulties which had attended I the establishment of these factories had now j disappeared. He pointed' out that tho quos- , fcion of exporting butter would have to be t considered, as last year 500 tons of butter was i manufactured in excess of the amount re- • quired for home consumption. Several experiments had been made iu the packing of 1 butter, aud it bad been found that tho butter | was better when packed with a preservative and in boxes.

Mr Weatlierbead made a few remarks on the necessity of cool chambers in factories, and expressed his opinion that no factory could succeed without them. Mr Wilson thought that the expedient of sinking a cool touk in the vicinity of the factory would provide water sufficiently cool for use with a Lawrence cooler, which could be used where they had no cool chambers. Mr W. Waller read a paper recommending India, Burmah, and the Straits Settlements as a good market for the surplus butter manufactured in the colony. ■ A considerable discussion ensued upon tho character of packages which should bo usod for the purpose of exporting butter to England.