The Daily News MONDAY, JUNE 22, 1931. THE DAIRY CONFERENCE

Taranaki Daily News, 22 June 1931, Page 6

The Daily News MONDAY, JUNE 22, 1931. THE DAIRY CONFERENCE

The meeting of the Dominion Group Herd-Testing Federation to-morrow and the annual meeting of the National Dairy Association the following morning are excellent curtain-raisers to the National Dairy Conference, which will commence on AV ednesday afternoon. It is quite fitting that so important a conference should be ushered, in by a subject which means so much to every dairy farmer as the testing of herds. During the conference matters of vital importance to the industry will be discussed, aiid upon .many of them there are hound to be sharp cleavages of opinion. In regard to the value of improved herds there can be but one belief, and it is generally recognised also that the only solid foundation upon which such work can rest lies in continuous and careful testing of cows. Figures published last week showed the improvement already brought about in the average productivity of dairy herds w’herever systematic testing has been maintained, and the records made it perfectly cldar that in no other way can a farmer accurately gauge the value of his livestock as milking herds or prove whether he is earning or losing money on each individual cow. Economic conditions have made it essential that production costs shall be reduced wherever possible, and if it is possible to obtain from a herd of 20 cows the output for which it was necessary to feed 30 inferior animals it docs not take much reasoning to show the wisdom of improving the herd by methods that have stood the test of experience and are applicable to all breeds of cows. All interested in the dairy industry will agree that the National Conference opening on Wednesday will be the most important that has held for many years. Problems of manufacture, of marketing, of payment for raw supplies, and those confronting the scientists engaged upon dairy research work, will be brought before it. The hope of those who wish to see prosperity return is that the questions raised will be dealt with frankly and with a desire to devise a solution of the troubles wherever they may be found. It is satisfactory to note that the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. A. .J. Murdoch, will address the conference. While the salvation of the industry mustveome from within, .its success or failure is of such vital importance to the Dominion’s solvency that the cooperation of the State in a fuller manner than in the case of ordinary commercial undertakings is not only justified but almost essential. Moreover, discussions in regard to manufacturing difficulties may show that alterations in industrial laws are necessary if the quality of dairy produce is to be improved, and that higher grading standards must be established for the same purpose. Action in these and other directions will require the aid of the State, and the Minister’s attendance may be regarded as an indication that the urgency of State co-operation is recognised by the Government as well as the importance of the industry to the ■wellbeing of the country. Another item of much importance will be the address of the chairman of the New Zealand Dairy Produce Board, Mr. W. A. lorns. He has had the opportunity of learning at first hand the reception accorded New Zealand dairy products in Great Britain, the value of the propaganda carried out by the board, and the efforts being made by some of the Dominion’s competitors to outstrip her in the British market. lie should be able to tell the industry also how the board has dealt with the problems that have come before.it and how its work has justified the expenditure entailed. Great interest. will attach to the survey by the director of the Dairy Research Institute, Dr. W. Riddet, of work carried out there. It is not so long since the correlation of work in the laboratory and in the factory was but dimly recognised. That is no longer true, in the dairy

industry, as the record of samples sent to the institute and to the laboratory at Hawera has fully demonstrated, and Dr. Riddct’s findings will be heard with keen interest. The conference meets at a critical time. I’rices for butter and cheese are deplorably low. Complaints in regard to quality are greatly in evidence, and competition from countries with a lower standard of living than obtains here is stronger than ever, with every sign of becoming fiercer as time goes on. It is necessary that the industry put its house in order, that it show its members how some adjustment to less pleasing economic conditions can be brought about, and—most important of all—how the quality of New Zealand produce can be so improved as to lift it into a class above its competitors, thus assuring it of a place in the British market by merit first and last. There are many factors that can aid, and doubtless the conference will discuss these from many points of view. But underlying all is the cold fact that unless the quality of New Zealand dairy produce is improved and full heed given to the wishes, tastes, and even the prejudices, of the buyers the value of the Dominion’s exports is bound to deteriorate.