THE DAIRY INDUSTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 19, 23 June 1913, Page 4

THE DAIRY INDUSTRY.

TUBERCULOSIS DECREASING. EXPERTS' VIEWS ON* A BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. ! l'almerston X., June 19. The annual smoke concert in connection with the National Dairy Show tonight was attended by about 140, Major Dunk presiding. During the evening Mr. Hoddcr, on behalf of the Association, presented Major Dunk With a handsome silver inkstand in appreciation of his many services to the committee since, the inauguration of the dairy show. The toast of the National Dairv Association was proposed by Mr. J. A. Nash, the Mayor of l'almerston North, who contended that the Association had done a great deal in the interests of dairying in the country and had also done much for the annual winter show. Mr. Harkness said that ten years ago the Association sent away 10,000 tons of butter and this'year 18,000 tons. In 1003 they'sent away 2617 tons of cheese and this year 30,000 tons. (Applause); One would realise the importance of the dairy industry when they knew it was worth £4,000',000 a year to the country. This year the National Dairy Association had put £250,000 through its hands, and that did not include advances which it may have made on dairy produce. "Make farming an occupation for tenants and you rob it of its dignity," said Mr. Harkness. '•£ want to see men own the land they are on, ant! not working for someone else." He referred to the drawbacks of the share-milking system. The high price of land was Another difficulty. No matter how flourishing the farming industries, if land was going to go to £7fr and £IOO per acre, as some said it would, he could not see how men without capital could ever make the land their own. The prospects for our agricultural industries seemed exceedingly rosy. The health of the Department of Agrieuture was proposed by Mr. J. M. Johnston, of Palmerston North, and responded to by Messrs C. J. Reakes, Director of the Live Stock Division, E. Clifton, Director of Fields and Experiments, and D. Cuddie, Dairy Commissioner. Mr. Clifton said that he had visited all the shows in the Dominion, and found Palmerston North the most progressive, but he had to give pride of place to Dunedin, the oldest of the winter shows. He also remarked that one of the northern shows was treading close on the heels of the Manawatu fixture. He was particularly pleased with the announcement of the Prime Minister that a Board of Agriculture would be set up, because such a board would establish a bond of sympathy between the Department and the farmers in everything the Department did. The farmer would by this means be consulted. Mr. Johnston had remarked that he would like to see two boards set up, but Mr. Clifton hoped' there would be only one board, for each island had a lot to learn from the other. Mr. Reakes said he believed the establishment of a Board of Agriculture T would be an excellent thing. Tuberculosis, which cost the country probably twice as much every year as any.other disease, had, he said,' been tackled by the office/s of the Department, an d he was glad to say that the work done had borne very good fruit. Recently a fall-ing-off in the ravages of the disease had' been shown. The return on March 31. 1011, showed that 7.04 of the cattle in- r spected were found to be infected with tuberculosis. In 1012 the percentage was 7.38, and in 1013 7.10. "This is not a very large reduction." said Mr. Reakes, "but it has this indication standing out clearly, that the steady, gradual increase of affected animals seems to have stopped, and I hope that next year we will show a still greater reduction." In the case of pigs, the position was even better. He was delighted at this, because nothing in this country had given him more worry than the' tubercular pig, which, however, was still a serious problem. For the year' ending March 31, 1011, the number of pigs affected with tuberculosis was 17.23 per cent., in 1912 14.30 per cent., and in March, 1913, ll.ofl per cent., a drop of six per cent, in two years. The decrease was duo in a groat measure to farmers not allowing their pigs to run in paddocks with infected cows. However, we would never ffct the disease in .pigs under entire control until all the skim milk and whey was pasteurised. Mr. Cuddie said that the future for dairying was bright, particularly on the cheese side. Mr. Harkness had spoken of the high price. of land, but Mr. Cuddie thought that even at its present high figure,, a farmer with good land, a good herd and good methods could make dairying pav well.