FACTORY MANAGERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 June 1925, Page 12

FACTORY MANAGERS.

OF ASSOCIATION. IMPROVING DAIRY INDUSTRY’. EXCELLENT SEASON FOR QUALITY’. (By Our Special Reporter.) The sixth annual meeting of the New Zealand Dairy Factory Managers’ Association was held at Palmerston North on Tuesday evening. Mr. D. Hull (Alakino), president of the association, presided over a large attendance of members. Mr. W. M. Singleton, dairy commissioner, and members of the Dairy Division stall were also present. The annual report viewed with satisfaction the financial position of the association, but regretted there were so many unpaid subscriptions appearing on the books. The past season had been an excellent one for quality, the great majority of the factories scoring much better than last season. While that reflected great credit on the factory managers concerned, they also wished to sincerely congratulate the factory suppliers on the marked improvement in the quality of the raw material supplied during the season. Given good raw material, most managers were keen enough to score well with the finished product. The quantities of dairy produce graded for export from the Dominion for the year ending March 1, 1925, were 1,406,625cwt5. of butter and 1,447,236cwt5. of cheese, butter showing an increase of 238,438cwt5. and eLeese an increase of 19,471cwt5. over the previous season. It was a matter for congratulation that after years of effort by the association the Government had decided to erect an up-to-date dairy laboratory and experimental factory. Much benefit from these facilities was predicted. During the past season quite & number of successful conferences were held at the grading ports, many dairy company directors attending, with the managers. These conferences helped to foster the spirit of the association and were instructive and profitable to both managers and directors., The executive thanked the officials of the dairy shows of the Dominion for the cordial reception accorded to all visiting members of the association each year. The keen interest evinced by the factory managers helped to build up dairy shows in this country that were second to none. They were pleased to report that the majority of dairy companies were adhering to the schedule of salaries adopted in 1923, but a few had still to come into line. Quite a number of business-like companies were paying keen managers in excess of the schedule •cale. They also thanked the officers of the Dairy Division for their continued support. It was recognised that by their zealous aid the quality of the whole dairy produce of the Dominion was being steadily improved. The chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, expressed appreciation of the work done by members of the dairy staff and the assistance they gave managers. He remarked that the past season had been a very good one from the point of view of both quantity and quality. The raising of the grade points had ibeen a very good thing, he thought, in assisting to maintain the high quality of New’ Zealand produce. There was plenty of room for improvement, however, and he urged all managers to do their utmost to even improve the standard. RELATION TO SHOW. All, he said, would no doubt be surprised at receiving from the National Show* Committee free admission tickets This was the outcome of an interview by the Manawatu executive. In addition tire show committee was subsidising the annual smoke concert and also assisting in entertaining them to a. motor drive. The show authorities had evidently awakened at last to the fact that the factory managers had a great deal to do with the success of the show. During the past few years entries from managers had been decreasing, but now that the show' executive had met them in such a fine spirit, it was fitting for the factory managers to reciprocate by enteripg very freely in the competition classes in the future. Regarding the ■conference with the National Dairy Association over salaries, the National Dairy Association gave them to understand that they would assist them as far as possible, hut so far they had put nothing in writing. The majority of the companies were paying salaries on the 1923 schedule. Some w’ere paying above that and a few below. Mr. J. \V. Downes seconded the motion, which was carried after a litt:e discussion on the salaries question. Mr. Singleton, referring to the raising of the minimum points for first grade to 90 per cent., congratulated the managers on the improvement that had been made in the quality. They could accept it as an assurance from him that the percentage of second grade had been very low. Managers wrere deserving of great credit. The question of cream grading had been discussed recently, and he thought that as the result of last season’s working they would have to seriously consider the question of mak- • Ing cream grading compulsory. There were, said Mr. Singleton, car- ' dinal faults that they had received complaints about, viz., soda flavour in butter and openness in cheese. He also commented on the fact that since last meeting the Government had decided to establish a laboratory and experimental ’ factory in connection with the dairy industry, a fact that no doubt would be appreciated flby members of the association equally with the Dairy Division. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Officers were elected as follows: President, Mr. H. Crosbie (Hawke’s Bay); eecretary, Mr. A. F. Neilson (Pihama) fre-elected: executive, presidents of provincial districts as follows: Messrs. Rutherford (Auckland). W. Thorburn (Taranaki), D. Hull (Manawatu), H. * Ciosbie (Hawke’s Bay), .T. D. Mclntosh (M'alrarapa), J. Middleton (South Island); auditor, Mr. W. E. Bendall. The secretary’s honorarium was fixed at the same as last year. Mr. Neilson declining to accept an increase. CO-OPERATION WITH N.D.A Mr. -T. B. Murdoch (president of the National Dairy Association), and Mr. Rackhouse (secretary) waited on the association. Mr. Murdoch first congratumted the managers on the splendid fvork they had done. New Zealand was fortunate in having such first-class men manufacturing their dairy produce. Now that the Government was establishing a fUnry laboratory, managers would have

further opportunities for improvement, and lie hoped that soon other countries would be sending to New Zealand for our managers as dairy experts. He suggested tiiat it would be more beneficial if the managers held their annual meeting at the same time and place as the National Dairy Association’s conference. This year the secretaries were meeting, and lie thought it would 'be advantageous to all concerned. He extended an invitation to the managers to attend the National Dairy Association conference at Hawera. In concluding he thanked the managers for the way they had worked with the National Dairy Association in the past and trusted the happy relations would continue. Tn'accordance with notice of motion, the question of the venue of the annual meeting was discussed, arid It was decided that in future the annual meeting be. held at Palmerston North, provided the National Show does not precede the Hamilton Show. The resolution that had been passed discontinuing trophies for competition at shows was rescinded on the motion of Mr. Neilson, seconded by Mr. Murray.