AN INTERVIEW WITH THE CHIEF OF THE DAIRY DEPARTMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2202, 14 May 1896, Page 14

AN INTERVIEW WITH THE CHIEF OF THE DAIRY DEPARTMENT.

Bx Drover.

Mr J. B. M'Ewan was in town on Monday on a flying visit (o Dunedin regarding the winter show, and also had a consultation with the committee of the National Dairy Association, upon whom he urged the importance of making a stroDg effort to secure a united and representative meeting of delegates from the different dairy factories to discuss matters of importance bearing on the present position and prospects of the dairy industry. The committee have instructed their eecr-fcary to take immediate and active steps to this end, and the meeting will, it ia to be hoped, b8 well attended on June 9. Cheap excursion fares will be avAJlable from the Btb to this conferenco and the winter show, available for return to the 15 h.

Mr M'Ewan has just returned from a short visit to Australia, having visited during the time at his disposal many of the dairy distric's i. *-w S -'"th Wale* and Victoria Hft is vtry f»voUf»bly impceasrd with &ne . ndi*i >us for dairying in those parts vi»ifced. He has no hesitation in saying that the work of our Dairy department in N'-.w Zpalar.d is at present more comprehensive and efficient than in those colonies.

In New South Wales they are anticipating a larger development of the dairy industry, and many factories are being established. The conditions there are, he says, most favourable for the growing of fodder crops, and he was much struck with the splendid crops of maize, lucerne,

aad sorghum, even in parts lately suffering from stvere drought;. The Berry E.V a^e Factory impressed him as being one of the b< sfc, and the general plan of operations on that estate as good and well arranged. They have on tha estate a central bather factory, with several ' outlying creamerio3. Dr Hay, the owaer, is apparently bound to make it a nuc-jsj, not only to himself, bnt to his tenants and stfpptiera. The estate covers an area of about 60,000 acres, a, large portion of which is used for dairying. Their output for March was 84 tons of very fine quality butter. This is quite an object lesson to landholders.

In Victoria the Western district struck him as very fine, and the quality of butter turned out ia this part of the countey his established a high reputxtion. It was from fch's ptct tint the butter cams which carried oft! the highest honors i<t the Royal Agricultural sbo^ in S.vii." y The factories thf re are all co-op- ra'iv •, and -uj)).>l!ed with adequite refrigerating pla.t<t j , and owing to this they can .regulate temperatures. One large faotory there, covering an area of about five milea, makes one tou per day of butter. Mr M'Ewan thinks that they have been extremely wise in so generally going in for refrigerating plant, which is cettainly one of th« chief reasms for the high-class reputation of Victorian butter from leading Factories. Onr factories must not presume on theirclimate to regulate temperature. It tmnt bo done by refiigerating plant here as there.

Abience of provision for winter feeding there is very marked, and he was met with the same objections and arguments there as here — principally, to wit, ".It won't pivy." From past experience elsewhere Mt M'Bwhi still strongly holds a conti ary opinioa. Our chief was well received by the Departments of Agriculture in all parts vit-ited ; also by business mea and dairymen, and expresses his appreciation of the many kindnesses received.

Mr M'Ewan will again visit us afctho National Dairy Conference and winter fliow, »nd then proceeds to the dairy school 'at E'lendale, and a<tarv?ards to the North Island soUool at Waverlry.