THE DAIRY INDUSTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 June 1925, Page 8

THE DAIRY INDUSTRY.

FEDERATION OF FACTORIES TREATMENT OF MAMMITIS. D.4IRY RESEARCH LABORATORY. A genera] meeting of the TarauaM Federation of Dairy Factories wa. teM at Ha wera yesterday, Mr. T. A. Wiaka (president), presiding over a large attendance of delegates. Discussing matters arising out of tha minutes, the chairman said that einoa the extraordinary meeting tiiat had been held the federation had written to the Director-General of Agriculture (Dr. C, J. Reakes] regarding the question of mamanitu, with a view to having an opinion as to whether the preparations of the Ring Proprietary Co. or the Hamilton Vaccine Co. was the better to use. The Director-General had replied, stating that be wa« not prepared to recommend either as neither had been tried out sufficiently. Many vaccines had been used in various districts. Consequently the directors had come to the conclusion that it would be better for the individual companies to decide for themselves. He believed that immunity from msnmitis could be created, especially with young stock, and if it only gave inmunity to 50 per cent, of the herd, it would be well worth while. Ae the result of representations by a deputation from the federation to tits Minister for Agriculture, it was statc-d that Cabinet had decided to grant ij> to £4OOO per year for three years fatwards the salary of a scientist in connection with dairy research, and the executive had advertised for the aervioeo of a scientist for a term of three yeara Already a good number of applications had been received. The mem'bere of the executive realised that it would be difficult to get a man who would quite ‘■fill the bill,” as there were two different branches, viz., the chemical and bacteriological departments, and it. would be very difficult to get a .man who happily combined the two. It had been decided to establish the laboratory for a year at least at the old technical school at Hawera, as that was equipped with gas, water, drainage, etc. It had been suggested that the laboratory should be attached to a factory, but that suggestion had been dropped in the meantime owing to extra expense, that would be involved. RAILWAY FREIGHTS.

The federation had received rather a disappointment regarding the reduction in railway freight, continued the president. They had understood that there was a likelihood of the freight on dairy produce being reduced by 15 per cent., but they had since been advised that the reduction allowed had been 10 per cent. That meant that produce waa now classed as Class D plus 30 per cent, instead of Class D plus 40 per cent. In benzine there had been a considerable reduction, viz., from Is 6d to I’ld per case from New Plymouth to Hawera, He thought the federation would be well advised to accept the reduction in dairy produce and put all their produce on the railway with a view to applying for further reduction later. He thought the Government would find that there waa room for it in view of the heavy increase in freights since pre-war days.

Uniform articles of association had been received from the National Dairy Association, and circulated among companies.

The matter of income tax on dairy companies had also received consideration. The present incidence of taxation did not encourage placing factories on a sound financial basis, and the matter was being represented to the authorities.

The standardisation of balanoe-sheeta had also been taken in hand, Messrs Dunean, Lees and Salmon having been asked to submit a balance-sheet. He thought that standardised balance-sheets would be of great assistance in comparing the working of different companies, as at present balance-sheets were set out in different ways. It would, he thought, tend to benefit co-operation as a whole if true comparisons were possible. THE CONSTITUTION. Discussing the deed of constitution Mr. H. Forsyth thought that a penalty clause should have been embodied in the event of any factory breaking away. (Mr. J. R. Corrigan, M.P., deprecated the inclusion of a penalty clause. They should encourage loyalty as far as possible. He thought, too, that the inclusion of a penalty clause might create a doubt in the minds of some companies which wore contemplating joining the federation. Some (discussion took place over the question of levy, which \yas on the maximum basis of fis in the 1001 b butterfat. This, on an estimated output of 20,000 tons of cheese for the nineteen companies ooncenied, meant a maximum revenue of £1(500 per annum. Mr. Forsyth thought that the levy should be more elastic in the event of more money being required. Mr. Corrigan held that the levy should be definitely fixed. Dairy companies would not agree to come into the schesne if the executive could fix any levy desired . With the Government subsidy which would I>e available, the chairman did not think it would be necessary to make the maximum levy. The expenses of equipment were estimated at £BOO, but after the first year the expenses should not be so heavy. COMPANIES AND LEVY. Replying to questions, the chairman said that fifteen of the nineteen companiea had agreed to sign up, whilst two had agreed, conditionally on a Government subsidy being obtained. He thought, too, that the two companies which had declined would agree to coms in once the laboratory was started. Ho pointed out also that there was a probability of companies from North Taranaki conning in, whidh would further re-, duoe the levy. The constitution was adopted, and will be placed before the directorates of the various companies. Messrs G. A. Duncan, A. Lees and Salmond, the committee appointed, submitted their report on the question of standardised balance-sheets and standardised statistics. They were accorded a vote of thanks for the report, whidh was discussed briefly, after which jt was resolved, on the motion of the cliairt man, that a committee consisting ot the ehairman, managers and secretaries of the federated factories should meet on Monday next to consider the preliminary form of standardised balanceshoets and statistics submitted by the subcommittee.