NATIONAL DAIRY ASSOCIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2812, 5 February 1908, Page 23

NATIONAL DAIRY ASSOCIATION.

SOUTH ISLAND BRANCH. (Fhost Oxtb Oto Cokresfowdent.) INTERCARGILL, January 31. The annual conference of the South Island members of the National Dairy 'Association was held in the Club Hotel fills evening 1 , when there were present: Mr James Milne (president), Mr J. R. Scott (eecretary), Mr Singleton (Government grader), and about 30 factory managers and directors. . The Chairman expressed his pleasure m freeing present so many interested in the dairying' industry. The attendance showed i live interest in the National Dairy Association, which had done good service for the farmers, and deserved their beat fupport.

The Secretary pointed out that the whole contributions of factories from Lyttelton to th<? Bluff totalled only £200, so that the association had not been much of a tax on the dairy farmers. Mr H. M'Coll (Seaward Downs) mo\od, and Mr Schmidt (Woodlands) seconded — " That the subscriptions of factories to the National Dairy Association be levied on a tonnage basis, without limit"' Mr Graham (Mataura Inland) pointed out that the le\y could not be enforced without authority from the Go\ eminent. lie was strongly in favour of the proposal. Mr Scott replied that the present contributions were got in without trouble, and he did not think any difficulty won 1 '■ anse under the altered arrangement propc-eel The motion on beinsj put was carried unanimously. Mr M'Coll proposed, and Mr Sawors seconded — "That clary inspectors should give special attention to instructing farmers how to cool their milk." Mr Sawe.-s (Government grader) said that cooling was the most important matter, 75 per cent, of the defects in cheese being due to defective cooling; and he would like to see Lawrence's coolers in use everywhere. Mr A. Singleton (Acting Dairy Comm^sioner) understood that under the new re gulations inspectors would be enpowered to enforce cooling. He reecgnis-ed that all farmers were not equalh well situated for cooling. He would suggest that factories nvght make arrangements whereby all the suppliers to their factories might have material -i,nd labour on the lowest possible basis. Speaking of the season's grading Mr Sa-.vers (Government grader) said in many cases the cheese was greativ improved in flavour, though he regretted to say some of the farmers had remained unsatisfas>tory. More old cheeses had been exported than formerly, and in many cases it was no credit to the exporters. Much of the cheese was sent forward too early, and he insisted that no cheese should be cased till it had been at least 10 days on the shelves. Mr Singleton gave an interesting account of his inquiries into cheesemaking in Canada, England, and Scotland. He had been everywhere impressed with the great care taken to secure cleanliness, and he was sure that what was wanted in New Zealand was not more knowledge, but more care. New Zealand cheesemakers were working, along the proper lines, and he hoped the result of the. visit to the grading operations to-morrow would be to inspire delegates to go back to their factories more than ever determined to see to the perfoting of sanitary arrangements in the factories and on the farms. To sum up, if given the best milk, New Zealand cheesemakers could make cheese equal to the best. New Zealand cheese could do with a slightly higher colour, but strong flavours were not in favour. Mr Scott strongly advised sufferers from turnipy milk to find a substitute for turnips for winter feed, or give up making cheese in winter. i Referring to the export of third grade cheese, Mr Singleton said that so long as the cheese was fit for human consumption the Government could not condemn it. On behalf of J. B. MacEwan and Co., Mr J R. Scott presented to Mr John Sawers a very handsome gold medal for the largest number of points at last Dunedm Winter Show.