DAIRY CONFERENCE

Southland Times, Issue 19280, 26 June 1924, Page 5

DAIRY CONFERENCE

YESTERDAY’S BUSINESS. (Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, June 25. The National Dairy Conference has concluded. The following remits were adopted: “That the present railway charges on butter are excessive and disproportionate to other railway charges, and, as in many cases transport by rail is unduly slow and delays are frequent, the Minister for Agriculture be again approached with a view to enlisting his support in a further endeavour to have these matters redressed, and so prevent a large amount of traffic being driven from the railways to transport by road.” “That the matter of depreciation taken on factory plant and equipment be brought to the notice of the Commissioner of Taxes with a view to having a uniform and equitable scale allowed on income tax returns.”

An address on the shipping of New Zealand dairy produce was given by Mr T. Woodcock of the Association’s staff.

It was decided to impress on the Dairy Control Board the need for securing more regular shipments, and regular deliveries under satisfactory conditions, and it was also recommended that the name “New Zealand” be enlarged on butter boxes, and that a small map of New Zealand be printed on the boxes and showcards issued to London buyers.

The next Conference is to be held at Hawera.

Papers dealing with the business side of cheese and butter manufacturing respectively will be read by Messrs A. Lees, secretary of the Joll Dairy Co., and W. F. Dear, secretary of the Kaipara Dairy Co. Mr G. Valentine, Government Dairy Inspector, gave an address on cream grading in North Auckland. He said that bad roads entailed delay in the delivery of cream the amount of choice butter produced had been increased by almost 40 per cent as a result of grading and farm instruction.

Further remits carried were: “That the Government be asked to introduce legislation making the grading of cream compulsory, and suggesting that second grade cream be paid for at the rate of at least one penny per lb. of butterfat less than first grade.” “That the Conference appreciates the necessity of farm dairy instruction work being continued and extended, and considers in view of the prospective compulsory marketing and control that this work increasingly assumes a national importance, as distinct from that of individual companies, and whereas at the present certain appomti ments of farm dairy instructors holding departmental status receive a Government subsidy, whilst other similar official appointments do not, it is the opinion of the conference that the whole position should be reviewed by the Government, and more equitable conditions of appointment laid down"