DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION

Southland Times, Issue 17659, 17 February 1916, Page 6

DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL SAIOKE CONCERT. , The first annual smoke concert of the Invercargill Dairymen’s Association, employers and employees, was held last evening, the president (Air W. Dcy) presiding over an attendance of about fifty. The function was a happily organised one. and was most harmonious throughout. In proposing the toast of the “Dairymen’s Association,” which was responded to by Air Stanley Hodgson, the chairman said that anyone who tackled dairying in any of its brandies had got to recognise that the work, included seven days in the week and that the days were mighty long ones. He was pleased that only two dairymen supplying Invercargill were outside the Association, and he hoped that shortly they would sec the mistake they were making. Almost every industry now had its union, as union was strength, and that applied to dairying as well as to any other industry. If every man supplying milk acted according to the principles of their Association, they would get a fair price for their milk and a fair living. The man ■who undersold would make a loss. He could give tho names of different dairymen who had failed purely by trying to undersell their confreres. He referred to chargo.s that had been made against dairymen at a meeting of the Town Council some time back, and said that there was not one of the dairymen in Invercargill at the present time who could be justifiably charged with such offences. During the recent spell of hot weather no dairyman \ could guarantee that his mill: would keep sweeter longer than twelve hours, except undej exceptional treatment, especially at the hands of the people who received it from the dairymen. In nine cases out of ten no care was taken of the milk by householders after it was received from the milkman. To show how it was possible to keep milk sweet, he stated that he himself had supplied milk for cats in two stores in Invercargill. The vessels fhto which the milk was poured were not noted for cleanliness, but they were lodged in a cellar, and morning after morning during the hottest weather when lie called at these places he found any milk remaining as sweet as when he poured it into the not overclean vessel. The moral, he said, was obvious. And in so far as putting preservatives in milk, it would not pay to do so, as any morning they were liable to meet the Health Inspector, and as a matter of fact did often meet him. When the Inspector took a sample from a dairyman tho latter could obtain an analysis of the sample on payment of 2s fid, and samples taken in this way had made tests up to 4.5 for butter fat. with solids S.S. The dairymen were not afraid of tho milk that was being sold in Southland, and he had frequently tested milk himself and had invariably above the standard. If the rules of the Association were upheld, tile only result for the dairymen must be a win. Other toasts honoured were:—“ The King”; "Tlie Army and Navy,” proposed by Mr ,T. S. AlcPherson, and responded to by Air \V. A. Young; “The Executive of the Association,” proposed by Air AlcPherson, and responded to by Air Jas. Robertson; “Tlie Employees,'’ proposed by Air AV. Dey, and responded to by Messrs P. Burdon and It. Kerse:

"The Ladies,” by Air R. Coster, senior; and “The Press,” by Mr F. Butterfield. During the everting songs were sung by Alessrs Prendergast. Dey, Russell, and AlcPherson. Recitations were given by Alessrs S. Hodgson and J. Hickey, and Air Hickey played several selections on tlie piano, besides accompanying tlie singers.

A most enjoyable function was brought to a conclusion by the singing of “Auld Lang Syne,” and a verso of the National Anthem.