NEW ZEALAND MIDDLE ISLAND DAIRY ASSOCIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9139, 11 June 1891, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND MIDDLE ISLAND DAIRY ASSOCIATION.

Tha annual meeting of members of Iho New j Zeulaud Mid.ilo Island Dairy Association waa ; held on VVoOiifisday at thfi association')) offices, \ Wnter atreot, Dancdiu. Me John Stevenson, of j Hwnley, occupied the chair, ami » considerable ' number of members wero piesent. Tho report and bulanco sheet worn rend imd laid before tho meeting. ! liKI'ORT. I On Hio 23th May 1860 It was decided to form this association under tho name of the Now Zealand Dairy ABSoolalion, thiß name being afterwards ohanged to tho " New Zealand Middle Island Dairy ABBoolntion," as it was found that a ilrm in Auckland (Mos«rs T. A. lieynolds and Co.) had already adopted and registered tho name "Now. Zoalaud Dairy ABBoeiation." Oa tho same date a secretary (Mr J. R. Soott) was appointed, who, with a sub-committee, was inotruated to draw up luloa, and isane a circular pointing out to dairy factories and others interested the ndvlnablllty of forming an association and tho bono(its lilioly to arieo therefrom. This waß done, and nt a mpoLiug of the commlttoo held on the 29th August, tlio secretary having reported that sufficient support being now .forthcoming, it was resolved that tho association a« proposed be now formed and commence its work. Fourteen of tho leading factories, extending from Ashburton to Woodlands, became members of the association. Tho first matters to como before the association were those of steamer freights and railway chnrgos, and these the association havo used their bsst efforts to have reduced. The shipping companies reduced their freights id per lb in cool ohamber to London, and Mr lirydono (the president, now in London) haß been instructed and empowered by the aeeoolation to make arrangements for a reduction to >}d per lb without primage, and if poßßlble to arrange that freight be raada payablo in London. A« the association will bo in a position to guarantee 1200 tons of cheese for London and a considerable quantity of butter to any shipping company during the Biienint! aeasun, it is thought that this reduction in freights will be obtained. 'Ihe Union SS. Company havo promised to consider tho matter of giving tho aEsociatiou a reduction in freights to tho Australian colonies. O.he committee and the seoretary have done what they could to got tho railway commissioners to reduce the rates on cheese for ihipment to London to grain rates, but as yet without any effect, although the commissioners bave the matter still under consideration and are making inquiries a3 to the extent and prospects of tho dairy industry. Tho committee have also given a great amount of attentiou to the question of improved cool ohambers in the Bteainers, and are prepared to submit plans fur the proper ventilation of the cool chambers, and to make a shipment early next leaeon in a cool chamber fitted with a plan of ventilation thoy recommend. Great attention has been paid to the shipment of oheeae and butter, and the Hallway Commissioners have instructed all Btationmasters to provide covered waggons for all shipments. The secretary has personally seen to the prompt shipment of each lot of cheese, and the association being able to take the wholo or a large portion of each ship's cool chamber, shipments have been bo arranged that both chceso and butter have been promptly transferred from truoka to cool chamber, and the delay and damage caused by goods having to remain in trucks for some considerable time has thus bsen avoided. Tho matt6r of packages has aim occupied the attention of the association, and they issued a circular with a lithographed plan of tho caBO for cheese they recommend, and feel sure that, its adoption will lead to a saving to factories iuSfreight. ku the weight of wood per ton of cheese iB much lobs, and tho measurement being leas, we shall be in a position to show shipping companies that less apace is required to carry the same weight of oheeae, and consequently that we are entitled to a reduction in freight. The eaßes are strong and approved in London. This association ha 3 also before It the matter of 000 l Btorage, and they are prepared to give ouppott to any company or rjer»on erecting cool storage at Iho shipping centres. Tho committee havo also arranged with a firstolaes compmy to inßiiro their associates' fuctorv buildings, stock, and plant at a low rate—viz., 19« per cent, per annum, acd marine insurance to Loudon at 13s per cent, Tho co^->-:ttee have also given an. order for all the dairy material required by the associated factories for the ensuing leason, and a considerable saving to all concerned may bo looked for in this matter. The Government have assisted the auociatlon, and they have been able to appoint aad Bend Home in the s 8. Doric in February an expert to watch and report upon tho chseßeand butter in transit, and the treatment on arrival. Mr Cox, of the Qeratdiae Dairy Factory, wa« appoiutocl and has arrived ir London, where he Is now pu-auing his investigations His report will come to hand shortly nc doubt, and will be published anil circulated. Mr Cox reported that the Doric shipments arrived in good order, and one of our friends iv London Mac nays, "The large shipment ex Doric lisb been landed in as good or better order than has hitherto been the case, and no doubt, with Oox on board, upeoial attention has been given to the temperature." The first shipment by the association was by the Euapehu on tho 19th December, and tho last by the Duke of Buckingham on the 22acl May. There is a further shipment to go by the Nuirnshire ou the 20th June. Tun association havo already chipped 9391 casea (02 1 tons I9ewt)of eueeae to London during thoeeaton in the iollowing vessels:—Kuapehu, Matatun. Doric, l.fifeshire, Mamari, I'akeha, Ote:ama, Bimutaks, lonic, Duke of Buckingham. Tho as3ooiation have also shipped 279 packages (lO{ tons) butter with most satisfactory resultß Primage to the extent of Sl'ii 16s has been received by the a-soclation and handed to the shippers. The reduction of one-eighth on the amount of cheese already shipped means £716 fie B.i saved. London brokers generally ri-poitarnarked improvement in the quality of New Zealand dairy produce during tbe past season, and the results of oaies of the prodnca tent Home through this association have proved very satisfactory so far. This association hava in view the appointment of their own broker or brokers in England and Scotland to deal with Now Eealeud produce, and they are now considering this matter, which they deem to be one of great importance to thi* industry, but which demands a considerabloamount of consideration, and which must by no means tie hurriedly gone into. In tilt; meantime'the hrst and most reliable information on this point i 3 beliiy collected by thoroughly qualified persons. The rnembarahip of the association will bo largely incea:e:l thia year, as many dairy factories, both iv ttiia island and In the north, have intimated their intention of joining. The secretary has visited all the factories at present associated, »nd they all expressed themselves well liitibikd with the remits of the association's work and with its aims and objects. The manufacture or Isutter for export has not baen given much attention to in the Middle bland generally, especially in the southern portion, and yet results show that where the butter manufacture haj boen curled cut on thfi factory system no batter place for the inclijstry can bo found than in Otago and Southland, and we advocate the combination of farmers in places where other facforiea do not exist in erecting small butter factories in tho rentro of sush districts, with tinsl! separafe creameries acting as feeders to the main or ceutre factory. Tho question aa to whether London !s to continue to bo the p!ai!e to which all Kew Zealand prochica is shipped is an important one, and will be wntchad ay this association with interest, Liverpool people s.-e giving the matter attention, and it is a fact that it is the k'rjje population in tho northern and midland counties of Kligland who consume our produce, both butter, cheese, and frozen meat; and our wool also «oca largely f.o the north of Mtijiland. '1 here are batter, quicker, and cheaper facllitleo lor quick diacU«r£e of vessels iv Liverpool; and aa at picseni; the railage between the northern counties of Knjjland and London cornea out of the pockets of TJew Zealand producers, and In viow of the fact that the i<rea.fc imlU of cur imports come f'om the north, and could be more cheaply shipped at Liverpool or Glasgow, the question <d direct cominterest to Kew Zealand producers. In conclusion your committee hope tbat this association will have the support of all the butter and cheese factories in New Z-aland, because iis aims and objects are for tho g"od. of all who have an interest in dew Zealand dairy produce.; as it aims r.t having a strorjjj union of th» wboli dairy industry, co-operating to rednce the heivy ireipbta and charges which have in the past and etill continue to almost strangle a young and growing industry which, v/ilh fair trentment, will be a sourco of prosperity to New Zealand for ever, and will, to a large extent, bo tho roeaua of nettling a happy and prosperous popu'atlon on the land ; bseause it wants all to co operate iv imparting information and instruction that will lead to increased excellence in manufacture; because it deaire) to secure for all cooperating the best and cheapest, mode of putting our New Zealand prodnca on the beat marketß. Ueoauee it has no ru<;tiv« but the welfare of all co operating, and U not in any way carried on for anyone's benefit or profit, but for the i;ood of all. l lh« statement of income nnd expenditure laid I before you duly audited sliowa thit the income for the past year, including £125 from Government, wae £190, and leaves at Uie end of the year abalac.ee j of £58 17s 3d to the credit of the association in tha i Colonial Bank. There is £i 25 to come from Government whan the dairy expert report eome3 to hand, and there is also tha expenses of the dairy expert to , meiit. Your committee, however, feel quite rare thst the expenditure will ba within the kcjrae. j ■i he. items of expenditure up to end of year are: - j Secretary's salary ... ... S, 52 0 0 , Postage, ttationery, printing, advertioiug. telegrams, &c. ... ... 20 19 6 Expense dairy expert to data ... 58 3 4 £131 2 9 Or bilance In bank ... ... 58 17 3 £190 0 0 Ihe Government havo shown a great Interest in : the dairy industry, and hwo also approved of the aims and objects of this association, and we think tbat by all j lining this association we shall ba able to Uy before [hem in a proper ar.d united way the j matters that we dsem needful to the furtherance of this great industry, which we know ha 3 the Governments bsst wishes, asd-we fael sure that any help we need from Government will be forthcoming, either in legislation or otherwise. Mr Stbyesson moved, aud Mr Prybb seconded, thu adoption of tha report and balatico sheet.—Carried. Mr Stevenson aim Mr Caddie, (.ho retiring members, were re-elected. Mr W. HeeH&n, Maungatua, was elected a member of committee; and it was resolved thsfc ths committee appoint another member if required. Mr T. i Brydone was re-sleeted president. The question of the heavy railage chsrgM on \ dairy produce was discussed, aud it was resolved to briug tho matter before ths msm'oera of ParHiinont, as dating thn past year the efforts of tho a?s<.>c?atio]i, with tho Railway Comraiisioners, lind proved unavailing.' What wa3 I waate.-l was thai; cheo3B for shipment in fourtou !ota aud over should be carried at gram rates. It W33 resolved thai; the secretary be requested to ssk the Minister of Lands to ph.ua fV.ciiinea iv the hands of tha dairy factories to j have their milfe analysed free of cosi; by the ] Government auaiyst when required. _ | 'l'he taeuiberfi present expressed,their Fstisfae- j tion lit tha work carried out alresdy by U;e j association, and klttrs were received sram j several factories wishing to join during the i cuning season. . I It was shown Ifcst tho txpr-n«es on shipments j of cheese sent tiiroiiijh tha assouiatiorj, incttid- ! ing fcvorythiug from ton fHc'.ory rlour until sold i in London, amounted to one p«:my one-filth per lb. This includes cartage, railsgf, harbour dues, freight, dock cn&rgei?, exchange, stamps, discount to huyer, commission, &o. Tha amount drawn as advance against the shipment was 3JJ per ib, and tbe exchiiDge as mentioned covers the whole. Taking off enrinkag« er net weight in London, it leaves 4 11-16 d net at factory door. j A vota of thanks wss passed to tho secretary j and committeo. i A vote of thanks to the chair terminated the I proceedings. i 11 J,d&6s.u'' CtonuwgaQi a aupsrinr dry sfas, ;