INTERNATIONAL DAIRY CONFERENCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2801, 20 November 1907, Page 8

INTERNATIONAL DAIRY CONFERENCE.

IMPORTANT RESOLUTIONS. .

INTERVIEW WITH THE HON. W. P.

REEVES.

(Fbok Our Own Cokbespohbbmt.)

LONDON, September 27.

To-day I saw the Hon. W. P. Reeves, who with Mrs Reeves has just returned from The Hague, where Mr Reeves, with Mr Hooper, has been attending the International Conference on Dairying. The main business of the English delegates, Mr Reeves told me, was to get a resolution through, if possible, dealing with the adulteration of dairy produce. They did not hope to get such a resolution passed ; all they could expect was to get it on the record. And they succeeded far better than they thought they would. The colonial delegates attached themselves to the English delegation in Tegard to this matter. About 25 British representatives were presont, and Mr Reeves and Mr Taverner (Victoria) were on the British executive, which was appointed on Mr Reevea's motion. "We were satisfied to get the resolution recorded/ said Mr Reeves. "As it was, it went further than most of the Continental people were prepared for. The resolution in question dealt with governmental control of adulterated' dairy products, and the Danes were very sympathetic in this matter. Mr Taverner and I had an unofficial talk with the Dutoh Minister of Agriculture on the question of whether the Government could not put a stop to the adulteration complained of. We had a very interesting chat, but as it was unofficial I cannot give details. I have, however, material for what I think will be a fairly interesting and useful report to the New Zealand Government." Proceeding, Mr Reeves said he had visited several cold stores and the cattle depot at Edam, and amongst others he had met Mr Ruddick, formerly Dairy Commissioner in New Zealand, but now of Canada, and had a talk with him. Mr Reeves said he was fairly hopeful of the people on the Continent as regards the Gradual stamping out of butter adulteration and imitations, also as regards improving the-^quality' of the butter. "I think, on the whole, things are going ahead there," said he. " But New Zealand need not fear competition froir the Continent as long as it is a fair competition. We cannot, however, fight unfair competition, which takes the form of adulterating products. In Holland I met a number of leading grocers from London, and they were very complimentary to New Zealand. They eaid that, in their opinion,

% we were overhauling the Danes. It is, off couree, only their opinion, and they gave it as such, but *they thought we should ultimately find cheesenraking not so profitable as butter. Of course it should be remembered that this was but a casual conversation ; I give it for what it is worth* • They were, however, particularly compli* mentary as to our butter, as in fact was everyone to whom I spoke."

"And what do you think of the position as you found it? "

" The position in Holland is extremely interesting just now. The Government is endeavouring to get a fairly drastic law through Parliament dealing with margarine, or " bosh "' butter as it is called. Tlwy. want to get Government control, but in this they are a bit behindhand. • Representatives of the margarine makers mustered fairly strong at the conference to defend their interests, but I am inclined to think that the Government and the firms dealing with the better-class products are> grasping the fact that a first-class article will in the end pay them best." In further conversation Mr Reeves toldt me the Dutch dairy farmers experience 'great difficulty owing to the lack of awiftrunninfj water supply — the very reverse o£ New Zealand, that land of swift streams. The Dutch, too, had not yet entirely goti out of the habit of making butter and keeping cream in close proximity to halfstagnent water and ditches. He was generV ally favourably impressed with both country and people, and, as far as he coukt see, with the live stock. From an artistio point of view both he and Mrs Reeves were charmed. They went a great deal out of the beaten track, and thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

While the conference was in progress a. small exhibition of colonial products was held at The Hague. The only colonial products on view were a couple of New Zealand cheeses exhibited by a private firm from London. The New Zealand Government decided not to exhibit, as there is no market in Holland for our dairy produce.

I may add that at a banquet given to those attending' the conference some 400 guests sat down. Mr Reeves was down to reply for the colonies, but «s there were 22 toasts on the toast list, and the twelfth had only been reached at midnight the conference adjourned, leaving the 10 other speeches proposing the toasts and the 10 replies until* the next conference, some yean hence.