The Dairy Industry. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Witness, Issue 1901, 17 July 1890, Page 30

The Dairy Industry. TO THE EDITOR.

SIX.-I notice la your issue of the 3rd inst. tlmfc your correspondent " Oneesemaker" has again rallied and come to the charge. " Oheesemaker says, judging by my letter. It savours more of friendship for Mr Sawers than any desire to advance the education of our dairymen. That is just as much as to say that without I can see fit to ridicule Mr Sawers as he has done there can be no advancement. Friendship or no friendship I have seen enough, both by practical illustration and the realisation of Mr pawera

manufactured product, to prove that be is the most competent dairyman In New Zealand, and quite capable in oon junction with the Dairymen's Association of raising the industry to a muoh higher standard than it is at the present time. " Oheesemaker" goes on to say that be knows something of every faotory manager from Asburton to the Bluff, and does nob consider any one of them fit to hold the position of Government instructor. He should have added except himself. Considering the remarkable ability and judgment he has displayed, also the great pains he has taken to enlighten the publio as to the pros and com in connection with the advancement to a higher standard of this very important addition to our colonial resources, it must be a terrible sacrifice to hi» feelings to still occupy the subordinate position .of "bottom sawer. However, " Cheesemaker " haa one consolation in that Nspeot.he is not alone in the world. With regard to comparison between M'Oallum and Sawera, I still adhere to my former definition, in spite of " Oheesemaker's " evasive answer, whiob I consider completely out of place. I also differ with " Oheesemaker " in this s It the manager of a faotory gives perfect satisfaction to his local dlreotors in every particular season after season and his produce brings the top price both locally an-l abroad that, I say, ought to be sufficient guarantee that the man thoroughly understands bis business, and is quite capable of fulfilling the duties appertaining to the position of Government instructor. "Cheesemaker's" suggestions with regard to the abilities necessary to constitute an instructor are all very well as applied to such, men as Professors LoDg, Harris, Arnold, and others ; but if one of those gentleman had been appointed to hold office in New Zealand, I question very much if his aotions would not have been just as severely critic ised, if not more so. than Mr Sawera'. Moreover, it further strikes me tbat if one of those able professors were to come to New Zealand to-morrow he would find himself considerably out of his latitude in respeot to dairy matters ; and like a lot more of ut] " Cheeaemaker " included, would be none the worse of a little extra colonial experience before entering on the duties of instructor for the oolony of New Zealand. Now, this little pet hobby of " Oheesemaker'a " ii really the only loophole he has got to work on, For let him try to diaguise the fact as he may, bis arguments from beginning to end point to the direct conclusion of personal animoaity and spite towards Mr Sawera.

With regard to variations in milk, " Cheeiemaker " says that I go to extremes, and so evade his meaning. Now in his first letter he makes out that this is at the bottom of all the faotory difficulties, and if all oheesemakers knew what sort of milk they were about to manipulate and how to treat it, there would be no bad cheese on the faotory shelves. And yet in his second letter " Cheesemaker " says that the factory managers can, and do, rejeot the unsound milk. Now if such it the case whence this cry about the want of uniformity 7 If this is not a contradiction, it is next door to it. If, as "Oheesemaker" says, tho managers do rejeot the uniound milk, why should he make such a fuss about the want of a highclass Instructor? With regard to this "dark mystery" in connection with the ordinary exhibits. Allowing the cheese that " Oheesemaker " speaks of as labelled " The Walareka Dairy Company," and holding a second-class award, to have been manufactured by John Sawers, I fail to see any disgrace attachable thereto, considering the faot that the Bruoe Dairy Factory cheese in the ordinary exhibit! held the first award (said cheese having been manufactured on Mr Sawers' system, and under his supervision). With regard to the removal and replacing of exhibits, I would ask "Oheesemaker" is it not just possible that J. and J. Sawers and the Waiareka Dairy Company are one ? Be the classification of dairymen, I think my fellow correspondent " Skim Milk's " solution of the problem ought to be sufficient explanation to " Oheesemaker " to prove that he has got the wrong sow by the ear. I would especially draw his attention the faot that seeing is baliaving, hearing is simply understanding. I have also much pleasure in endorsing J. R. Scott and " Skim Milk's " replies to the alphabetical list of queries set down by " Cheesemaker " for my consideration and answers. The questions referred to appear to be simply the outcome of casual information combined' with a fevered imagination, and show plainly the oonttruotion that " Cheesemaker " has put on the • dairy competition— namely, tbat Mr Sawers had the judges installed to suit his own purpose. Now if the judges favoured Mr Sawers, as " Oheesemaker " wishes to infer, how does it follow tbat after the competition, when the public, who are the best judges, were allowed to go in and sample the cheeses of the various factories for themselves, they were unanimous inopinionai to the deserved merits of the first awards. In face of the foregoing faot I defy " Oheesemaker" conscientiously to cast any reflections on the aotions of either Mr Sawers or the judges. In reference to Mr Sawera' knowledge of butter manufacture, I may inform " Cheesemaker " that he is quite capable and thoroughly understands the process from beginning to end of making up butter for export. And I may further mention that there is no comparison between butter made for export and that made up for dairy show, in so muoh tbat the export article has to show unbroken grain and keeping quality, whilst that made up for show it generally overworked, thereby destroying the grain, which is detrimental to long keeping. And now, in oonolusion, I wish " Oheesemaker diitinofcly to understand that as far as I am conoerned the correspondence on this aubjeot has ended,— l am, &o , July 14. Fairplay. TO THB EDITOR. Sir,— ln your issue of the 3rd inst. I notice a letter signed " Oheesemaker," which I deem it my duty to reply to, although I see my friend Mr J. X Scott and "Skim Milk '"have taken notice of it in your issue of the 10th :— A.— Ask the Exhibition Commissioners. B.— Presumably because the commUiiouers considered they were qualified. O.— l have had all my cheese for the last two years 150 miles from Oamaru. D.-Yes. E.-No. F.— No. G.-No, H. — No; a most impertinent question to ask. By inserting the above you will oblige, -Xouri,

Jambs Familton, One of the Exhibition Judges.

Oamaru, July 15.