MILK FACTORY TESTS.

Southland Times, Issue 21872, 25 November 1932, Page 5

MILK FACTORY TESTS.

To the Editor. Sir, —In your issue of 21st inst. there appeared a letter signed “Tester,” making an unwarranted attack on the good name of the Southland factory managers. As I have been a director of factories for some 16 years, I very much resent such a cowardly attack on managers in general as I have always found them to be a just, upright body of men doing all they can to assist the farmer in every way. “Tester” refers to “the disparity between the factory tests and the tests of the herd-testing association’s officer. Now, sir, the association tests solely to help the farmer to improve his herd and cull any of his dud cows and not to compare against the factory test of every 10 days period, the farmer’s sample being solely a test of each cow for the 24 hours which is always averaged over the whole month and cannot be taken as an indication of whether those tests are normal or otherwise. The factory sample is over a 10-day period and by law is held for four clear days after testing so as to enable the results to be checked at any time by a Government officer. As for doctoring milk before testing I would advise “Tester” to go and see a mental specialist as no factory manager is going to risk his position by doing any under-hand work. “Tester” is evidently one of those discontented small suppliers any factory would.be better without and should have signed himself “A Chronic Growler.”—l am, etc., DIRECTOR AND A TESTER.