The Dairy Industry Bill. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2014, 29 September 1892, Page 8

The Dairy Industry Bill. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,— The bill before Parliament re dairy> produce has been in my hands, and I should make larger amendments than your leading article recommends. The trade expected and has been promised considerable assistance from Government, but not in the direction shown by the bill under discussion. Meddling with details is quite outside of Parliament— for instance, with regard to " branding." Registered branding by factories should be encouraged and, strongly protected ; but as butter and cheese made by farmers is a very old industry, and s cannot be disturbed by legislation, the most Government can do is to protect buyers from false brands, and prevent produce packers from inventing false brands, either in New Zealand' or after delivery of their packages in London. I do not think every cheese should be branded by Government order, although where anyone attaches his brand it should be respected legally. All that is wanted is that a false, description of quality should be prevented,.! Buyers should know the quality of cheese suit-, able for their customers, and are better aware than any Government inspector. The importers and manufacturers of woollens in the colony might as well be required by Government to label the percentage of "shoddy" in order to protect the tailors. My idea of the requirements of \he butter ' and cheese trade are that— (l) The Government, should provide storing sheds at the leading ports for dairy produce, with refrigerating machinery attached. Butter suffers if stored in same chamber with cheese. (2) The officer in charge should take out the bills of lading, and see that the produce is stored in either the freezing or cool chamber, according to custom; and prevent the captain or agents sticking in too many warrandices. Indeed, Parliament should determine the form of bills of lading necessary to protect shippers, which is only the old-fashioned law of the Home country. > It is quite a novelty that shipping companies should each invent new forms of bills of lading stuffed with warrandices. (3) There should be an inspector in London, under the Agentgeneral, to attend on the wharf every steamer from New Zealand as she arrives, and report the condition of the cargoes' in the cool and refrigerating chambers. Where damaged dairy produce or mutton is found the inspector should be able to report whether the fault lies with the shipper or the management of the ship. These suggestions will be attended with exj pense, particularly with the erection of storing sheds ab the leading New Zealand ports, but Parliament has already promised assistance to j the dairy industry, and the expense will be light compared with what the Government of Victoria is now granting, in a bounty of 3d per lb on butter to London. — I am, &c, Thomas Brown, „ September 19. Owake Dairy Faotory.