NATIONAL DAIRY ASSOCIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2569, 10 June 1903, Page 28

NATIONAL DAIRY ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING

Th© annual meeting; of the National Dairy Aesociation was he.d in the Agricultural Buildings on Wednesday, and v.-as attended by agout 30 gentlemen, Mr J. Milne (of Wynaham), president of the association, occupying the cliair.

ANNtAL REPORT.

The President, in moving the adoption of the annual report (already published! and balance sheet, expressed regret that the name of Mr Barnett had inadvertently been omitted from the list of the committee published with the re-port. He alluded to the successful season generally which the association had had. The prices for cheese had •been exceedingly good, and in the early ipart of the season butter looked promising-, tout the results had not been so satisfactory as in the case of cheese. However, that was a matter that could not be helped. Mention was made of the work done by tlie association in the way of holding meetings at Bluff, Invercargill, and Lyttelton. and abo to the eatisfactory manner in which the shipments liad gone on tins year, bath as to departures and arrivals. No hitch had occurred, and there had been Dolhing of an adverse character to deal with. The industry and the colony hall sustained a 6evere loss by the departure of Mr Kinsclla, chief dairy commissioner, who, by the admirable way he lad conducted his business, had earned the goodwill, and even affection, of all dairymen in the South Island. He was quito certain. Mr KinseKa vmld give the utmost satisfaction in South Africa. He had proved himself an excellent head of the depart•ment, and the manner in which Le conducted Sue business was most agreeable and satisfactory — (Applause. )

Mr M'Lachlan objected to the adoption j of the report, as it practically committed I the association to adopt Lytteiton as the ' •port of shipment. Ho tl-ought Port Chalmers was more central for tlie ."iodlh Island generally, more especially as the i-eport recommended members to occasionally visit •The shipping port and spc the methods of grading and work of shipment. He would move as an amendment — "That Port Cl.aimers should be made a:i alternative shipping iport for the association's produce." The Chairman said that a* far as the association was concerned there was nothing in •the alteration. All they wanted was to get 'their produce away in the most satisfactory •way they could, and they thought the present system could be improved on. The report, with the amendment proposed, was adopted. ELECTION OF OFFICERSThe retiring members of the committee — Meesre J. Gray (Mataura) and John Spratt (Dunedin) — were re-elected. _ I Mr J Milne was re-elected president. In returning thanks for the honour conferred | on him, Mr Milne said the committee had ; tric<\ to do their best for those they were working for. Although at times they had •had disappointments, on the whole hethought lie cculd with confidence cay that they had be-^n able to assist in forwarding the interests of those who had elected them. ! — (Applau-e.) j shipping FUimiFS. I Mr J. TTrrdman, Kociptary of the Inver- i cnnjill P.iiiv Supply Company moved — "That the diipment of cheese and butter from Canterbury, Otacro, and Southland factories be centralised at Lyttelton and Port Chalmers, and that the ftovornmont bo approached with a view of (1) putting on a through dairy traia at stated interval*,

to lift all butter and cheese en route ; and (2) to grant a special uniform rate of railage to all butter and cheese factories shipping in this way.' 1 Under present arrangements, when tliey had to ship from Wellington, the butter was sent by the Union Company's steamers, which had no refrigerating chamber, and it was detrimentally affected. His company on one occasion sent a shipment whicii was placed somewhere near the funnel, and on ai rival in Wellington 10 of the boxe3 were found to bo half empty and a good portion of the remainder %vas classed a3 second grade — a thing that had never occurred with their butter before.

Mr Ellison (of the Central Dairy Factory, Christchurch) seconded t.ie motion. Mr J. G. Harkuesa (of the North Island National Dairy Association) said that his association now had a contract with two ) shipping companies for the oceon carnage of their produce, and they had not ordinary tramps, but steamers of the Athenic and Gothic type. The conn-act was for five years, fcur of -which, were to run, and the I ports of departure were Wellington aad I Lyttelton. It was a distinct advance on any j other contract they had ever had before. 1 Ho had been pe-gging away at Sir Joseph I Ward, Minister cf Railways, for the last j two years on the question of a reduction of I railage rates, and eventually, ac Stratford, ; Sir Joseph had said that he would agreo to j what Mr Harkness had tusked for. Now, what he hi»d asked for wag that a faotory I 100 miles from the shipping port should be charged the same as a factory 10 miles away, i Nothing, however, had been done towards i carrying out that promise, and the rates j never wou'd be gazetted until the dairy 1 people could bring sufficient pressure to bear ! on the Government to force if; to be done. ' He was at present in Dunedin for the purpose of bringing pressure to bear on the J Union Steam Ship Company to put ro- ' frigeracing compartments in their stearner3 j for the carrying of dairy produce along the I coci>t« The company's objection was that I this would cy>sL £1000 for each steamer, but his (Mr Harkeass's) reply to that was that it did not matter what the oost would be, they had to do it, otherwise they would get other steamers to carry their produce. Ho advocated and urged the New Zealand factories to sink all differences and work for the matters which were of mutual and great intere?t to all. After come further discussion, ! Mr Bolt moved as an amendment — " That the Union Compan3 r be approached and asked to provide refrigerating chambers in their steameis carrying produce to the ports i of shipment." The Chairman's suggestion that tho amendment should be considered apart from > the motion was declined, and on a vote being taken six voted for the amendment . and seven for the motion, which was de- ( clared carried. The meeting then adjourned till 10 o'clock this (Thursday) morning, next Thursday morning. The annual meeting of tho National Dairy Association was continued in the Agricultural Buildings on Thursday, Mr Ja6. Milr.e (Wyndham), president of tho association, occupying the chuir. APPOINTMENT OF DAIET COMMISSIONER. The Chairman moved — "That in the opinion of this meeting it is desira-ble that we should ha\o one man at tho head of the department as commissioner, whether selected from men now in the colony or not." Mr J. Gray (Mataura) seconded the resolution. Mr H. E. Bacon (Mokoreta) moved as an amendment — "That in the opinion of this meeting the Government should send to ' Canada for the n^w dairy commissioner, he ' to be the one head of the department " Mr Walker (Wyndham) seconded the amendment. . Mr R. Ellison (Central Dairy Factory, Chrisfchuroh) supported Mr Bacon's proposal. Without any desire to cast reflections, he believed jt would bo to their advantage to get a man from Canada well up in the ' scientific tide of the subject. Mr W. J. Bolt thought they had juet as efficient me:i in New Zealand as could be I got from Denmark or Canada. By introducI ing tho word " Canada " into the motion i they were casting reflection upon experienced men in this colony. New Zealand cheese and butter stood higher in the j London market than tho Canadian articles. J Tho Chairman: "Question." | Mr J. M'Lachlan (Waik.iwn. Valley) said \ the whole of our dairying industry was put on a proper footing in 1891, and that, too, without the aid of Canada or any other place. To talk of science was all vory nice, but ho thought the word "Cavai'a" ought to be- struck out, and let it I>e left an open ' ciuection where the expeifc should conii horn, \ tho ronferenco affirming th< principle that , the department c liould have one head only j Mr J. Heidman (Invcrcargill Dairy Supply i 1 Company) Gugprest-ed that cvon if the Go- \ eminent appointed a loca! man. and l>e required further instruction not attainable in New Zealand, it won'd bo r imparatnoly easy to send him either to Canada or Denmark to qualify himself with the desired knowledge. Mr W. G. B'ikou (South Oanlerluirv) ask«l whetl er then* were any nuthont'c testimonials in existence to prove <hat any of tho men they could get from Canada had the scientific experience spoken of in printer degree than *-ome of the- men available in this colony It was likely that fh"v cou\] get as capable a man in New Zealpnd as> elsewhere Mr G. Reeve (Gore) was in favour of a man from Canada — a man who could <>hoy. r them th<* Koientifio as well as the practical aspect of their work. There wa<* nothing like an introduction of new blood. The Chairman said he wou'd like to emphasis one pomt — viz.. that whether there was selected a man fiom outside the colony or not. fie man appointed should be the one hrad of the department If they had onr> for butter and another- for rlice,e it would result inipatisfactonlv. The chairman's motion wa^ carried in the proportion of two to one INSPECTION OF D».IRIE = Mr John Spratt (Dunr-r'in) moved — "Tl'at it is necessary for the inspection of dairies ' that the inspector be iinder tbe control of tho Dairy Commissioners Department; that such inspector should have a good knowledge of milk and milking, and bo capable of tracing the cause of defects in milk to the true source, and ibe able to igive such practical | advice as will remedy these defects." He said that this resolution was originally ; adopted at Invereargill. and confirmed at , LytUHon, when Mr Barnctt (of Christ- j church) pointed out that one main line of advancement lay in the improvement of the vhole of tlw> milk supply, aud eaid that

it would be well if the Government sent round experienced men to show all farmers how to improve the quality of the milk and point out the necessity of certain improvements in their methods.

Mr Bolt eeconded the motion

Mr J. M'Gowan (the Acting-Dairy Commissioner, who was in attendance) was asked by the chairman to favour the meeting with his opinion and any information he could give. Mr M'Gowan 6aid they were all aware that at present the irspection of dairies was under the Stock Department, and the reason for that, ho thought, was that they had stock officers all over the colony. He believed that better work could be done under the existing system than otherwise. His own experience- led him to conclude that where dairies were kept in a clc-an, sani^ry condition there was no trouble. More good could, porhaps, be done by example than by the adoption of arbitiary measures. They muse have a man a? Dairy Inspector who is thoroughly versed in his work — a man who could give a few pointc-rs as to how a shed or stockyard should be built, and how they should be kept. The work could be carried on all light by the stock inspectors. The factories had their own nven to inspect the milk when it vrzs brought to "them, and if it was not satisfactory to reject it. Mr Bacon admitted that t-here were factory managers who had the power to reject milk, but in moac cases these managers were employed by the very men whose milk they wi.ro supposed to reject should it not bo up to the mark. That was a very anomalous position. He had discovered for himself, I altho-igh he was running a prhate factory, I that if he returned milk repeatedly ho might I clcgo his business. If, however, there- was a Government man to do it the case would j be different. A ptrscn of tact and judgment was needed — one who would not be too hard or too crsy; and although such a man might bo difficult to get, the factory proprietors of New Zealand wanted him and must have him. The resolution was adopted on the voices, as was also a further motion by Mr Bacon — " That a copy of the foregoing resolution be sent to the Minister o_f Lands and to each member of Parliament in those districts in which the National Dairy Association is represented." BRANDING OF PRODUCE. Mr Bolt re-ad a letter received from the Secretary of Agriculture askiae; for the odvioe ,of the association in relation to the branding of dairy produce for export. He moved — " That each factory should have one brand and one brand only." If an agent desired to use a private brand it should bo on one side of the package only, and not so a= to obliterate or interfere with the factory brand. Mr W J. Guild (North Otago) seconded the motion. The Secretary (Mr James R Scott) said the committee had already dealt wiith the matter at a special meeting h-eld on August 1. 1902, and 'had eorrcvnond'cd with the North Island National Dairy Association, who aeked for this society's support. Tho association was in entire accord with them, a.nd a!so with the Dairy Commissioner. Mr J. G. Harkness (president of the North Island Dairy Association) 'said he de-f-ired to point out that a very different view of this question obtained in the r.crth. The proposal mot with very Jittle favour there. He believed that two-thirds of 111030 interested ther*> preferred that a factory should bo allowed two brand*. He was looking at the matter from a busings pomtNrf view It was only right that if a factory wished to sunply business houses in one town it should have two brands, but, he should cay, no more. Mr M'Gowan feared it would operate as a hardship in many cases if the motion wore adopted. He did not think it advisable, to prant a factory tl'rot 1 or four brant's, but could soe no harm whatever in two brands b n ing allowed. Mr Bolt said ho was agrevabls to accept the- Eucrge^ited limit of two brands. Tho mam object he had in view was to prevent the exporter from buying from tho factories, and then obliterating tho factory brand by placing his own ov^r it. Ho would, therefore, amend hi-* motion to read. " That a factory be- allowed to register- and uso only two brands, and thpt exporters be not allowed any private brands." The resolution, as amended, was carried. | IHN'DLING BUTTER. ! A communication was read from tho Department of Agriculture, Wellington, in i which the question was asked, " Who! her a I co-opcraMve company or owner of a factory should bo allowed to purchase butter in bulk and naok the sune in pats under J one or more brand", tho registered number of the factory win re rr.ai.ufaetured merely bointr a r !d»d on tho l-o\ and wrappers?" After (ii-c-i: -ion, a \o'^ wa3 tjken and the qw lion a-a-v.orcd iv the negative. '. ill: ISIPRKSS BH\XD. Mr J H. R. Taylor (Aparima) said that in ord"r to protect Ne-w Zealand cheese in the Homo market an impress brand should b> put on the side, of each cheese — not on tho oncl, where it was liable to bo obliterated by contact with the shelves upon wliioh the clicl-o might ho placed. Tho impress brand on tas 3 -ua= all very v.oP. but once the olicoso was (jlc.ii out of t'.P boxes tIIPPG wa-. practically nothing by which it could be id« v ntifi'>d. Ho nio\(nl — "That tho subject of an impress brand on c-liocgo should receive (Ho consideration of tho Government Duuy Department." Mr .John Steve. son (Hcrclpy) seconded the motion, which v. ns ncgatned on di\i«-'cn, only sonio half-d'.zr-n repreionLitne-s taking tlu trouble to \oto. INSPECTION- OF BOII.r.R°. Mr Rreve moved — "That the inspector of iiiaehinory bo i equated to inspect tho Lusters of dairy factories during tho winter month*." Mr Walker seconded, and tho resolution was adopted. rnoros\L for am \rn urmo.v Mr Hnrknc-s, on behalf of t'.^ North Inland Daily Association, exttneiod to tbo meeting, and all others intere-ted in dairying matter', an imitation to be present at Palmoi-ton North on the 28th of July ne-xt. A vory large meeting would be hekl there, and, Le^id^?, tliere wou'd be th<> agricultural show, at which lattf-r they would have the opportunity of seeing perhaps £ho finest display of dairying implements ever got together in Now Zealand He next proceeded to say that ho was in Dunedin at tho present time for t':e express purpose of ascertaining whotlip-r it was not possible for tho North Inland" ancJ the South Island As=-cc ; atiojH to centralise and become one strong association He thought t>io time had arrived when amalgamation oT interest should be brought about He qu.'e reeogni-ed tho good work that had bcr-n done in the Soutih Lldndj tke position ol the soutkera

association was that it was not a registered society, and could, therefore, neither dtself fire a ehot or be shot at. He believed, tho northern section was the parent association. Mr J. R. Scott : No ; wo are the parent society.

Mr Harkness said be would accept that statement, although it did not appear to him. ,that it was correct. Howeve-r, they were all malting for the same object, and by joining forces they would be under less expense than at present, and could have ona central office in Wellington.

Mr Scott: Thb association was formed in 1890, and your own people were membera of it, but you hived off from us. It is important that that ehould be borne, in mind.

Mr Harkness: Well, I am not very particular about that, whether you hived off us or we hived off you. We believe we are tho stronger society.

A Voice

Wo admit that.

Mr Harkne3s thought that in an organisation like- this all interested should be as one. and have one head. Their influence would then be felt in the colony, and good work done.

Mr J. W. Foreman (Taranaki) aLso spoke in favour of amalgamation.

The Chairman said tha+, do jure, the two soceties were one, and mentioned _that when the northern section was registc-rec' tha southern section contributed to the expenise of registration. They could not. howover, be expected to be in touch with tho northern association upon every point. A'tf tho same time they always recognised it when important issues we-ro to be settled. There was little use, however, in discussing the matter at a meeting like flic present, but Iv (Mr MiLns) would have the matter brought before the comnti.btee, and would then give an answer to tho two northern representatives.

The proceedings terminated with a vote of thanks to the chairman and the executive for past 6ervices.

(To ire continued )