DAIRY LABORATORY

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12094, 23 March 1925, Page 8

DAIRY LABORATORY

TORE ESTABLISHES STATEMENT BY MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE. SITE AT WALLACEVILLE. The Government has decided to establish a dafry laboratory, and l a miniature butter and cheese factory to be run in conjunction with it. The site decided upon is the veterinary laboratory farm at Wallacevil'.e, near Wellington. In announcing this decision the Minister for Agriculture (Hon. W. Nos'worthy) said that it is very apparent that a Teal necessity exists for facilities for investigating the various troubles arising in connection with the manufacture and handling of butter and cheese, together with subsidiary products, casein, etc. The great increase of home separation, which was unavoidable, has been a factor in increasing these troubles, and during the past season adlvioea received from London have shown that deterioration in quality of both butter and cheese by the time vt has been placed upon the market has been noticeable to a more sufficient extent to indicate dearly that we must do more than is at present possible if these troubles are to be checked and successfully overcome. For this, scientific investigation and research work are neoessary.

The present scientific staff of the department at Wallaceville has done a good deal of this class of work for the dairy division, and has done it well, but it has its own special duties in connection with animal disease to carry out, and what is now required is quite beyond its capacity in man power, build, ings, and equipment. Having regard' to the importance of the dairy industry to the Dominion, and the necessity for maintaining the quality of its output at the highest attainable level, it is realised that a point has been reached when a properly designed and equipped dairy and research laboratory, adequately staffed, is an absolute necessity. It is intended to equip the miniature dairy factory with both butter and cheese-making plant to test under working conditions the results obtained by investigation and research. Wallaceville, in the Hutt Valley, is considered a very suitable site for the laboratory and factory. At the Government farm there is a sufficient area ot good pasturage to keep the cows required to supply the amount of milk necessary. The nearness to Wellington wll be of special advantage seeing that not only could the head of the division be always in oloee touch with the work being carried on, but the best scientists in the department, whose headquarters are mostly in Wellington, will also be available for consultation when necessary. Moreover, this central position would enable the laboratory to be best placed for meeting the requirements of both North and South Islands.