THE DAIRY LABORATORY

Taranaki Daily News, 24 February 1932, Page 11

THE DAIRY LABORATORY

FIRST IN THE COUNTRY

SAMPLE OF ACTIVE CO-OPERATION.

FINE SERVICE OF MR. P. 0. VEALE.

Not the least of Hawera’s claims to fame is the dairy laboratory, the first of its kind in New Zealand. Even dairymen with little interest in anything else but their own farms have heard, for instance, of the Tokaora test and among progressive farmers the laboratory enjoys a high reputation. It was in the second year of its isience that the Taranak’ Federation was able to realise its desire to establish a dairy .research station. In June, 1925, the project was finally established and Mr. P. O. Veale, 8.A., M.Sc., appointed scientist in charge. The laboratory was financed partly by a Government grant and partly by contributions from the federated companies, while the Taranaki Education Board made available part of the old technical school on very liberal terms. Mr. Veale arrived in Hawera in September to take up the work which has made his name among, the leading dairy scientists of New Zealand. Mr. Veale had a distinguished scholastic career. An Entrance and Senior University Scholar, lie took his degree with honours in chemistry and also gained the Gillies and Sir George Grey Scholarships for science. From 1920 to 1922 he was the Auckland nominee for the Rhodes Scholarship, only one of which was allotted annually to New Zealand at that time. Mr. Veale was science master at the Auckland Grammar School and his hobby was the scientific side of dairying.

Tho new scientist arrived to find the laboratory as yet little more than a name. He had to instal all the necessary apparatus and was severely handicapped by the shipping strike. As illustrative of his early trials, Mr. Veale relates how when he came to apply methylene blue and curd tests to some milk his apparatus consisted of a hastily constructed stand to hold the samples and a baby’s bath to heat them in. The valuable lead given to the industry, for it must be remembered that Hawera was the first co-operative •* laboratory and the first research institution to do work for the farmers as a whole, was highly complimented. Perhaps the most significant remark made was that of Sir I'rank Heath, secretary of the British Department of Scientific and 'lndustrial Research. He told a gathering, of Wellington business men that the establishment was a piece of active co-operation. Nothing he had seen in New Zealand was more hopeful than the little laboratory, although it was a modest undertaking. Besides introducing scientific methods into the industry the laboratory had, he pointed out, in its first year solved several important problems. It is interesting to note that Sir Frank Heath’s visit was the prelude to the establishment of the Dairy Research Institute at Massey College. He recommended the foundation of an agricultural college the principal feature of which should be. its dairy institute, for he considered that less scientific work had been done for the dairy industry than for any branch of agriculture in New Zealand. He also supported the manner that has been achieved within the last twelve months.

The value of the laboratory to the factories it has served and to the industry in general is difficult to estimate. It is unfortunate in a way that the Tokaora test made such a stir. A large quantity of'work done by the laboratory has to a certain extent been overlooked by the many who have expected similarly sensational experiments. The routine work of the laboratory is perhaps the most important. The tracing of defects in the raw material and the isolation of causes are most important to factory managers. Mr. Veale’s work on non-acid milk, including his discovery of the effect of contagious mammitis bacteria, has had far-reaching results. The labora-; tory’s propogation of starters has also been of great service to factories. In each of his annual reports and in his special ones Mr. Veale has opened up ground for valuable discussion. A striking instance is afforded .by his last annual report, which urged in the strongest terms, with the most cogent arguments, the grading of milk and differential payments. His lengthy report of 1930 dealing with openness in New Zealand cheddar cheese is by way of being a classic on the subject. If Mr. Veale and the laboratory had not performed any of their other great services to Taranaki dairymen their educative influence alone would have been worth the expenditure. In almost every question affecting the industry Taranaki has been able betimes to express its views on the subject with clarity and logic. and the other steps to assure each factory of its existing supply. The autumn of 1925 saw a Government grant assured for the laboratory and the proposal beginning to take concrete form. -By September Mr. P. O. Veale, 8.A., M.Sc., had arrived to commence his work as scientist in charge of tfie research station. In October a serious situation was created by a shipping strike. A special meeting of all South Taranaki business interests was held and undertook to organise the district in support of whatever action the Government considered necessary. From its inception onwards the federation by its prompt consideration of problems affecting the industry has constantly given a lead to the producers of New Zealand. Perhaps the federation was not always right, but at least it has performed a valuable service as the mouthpiece of Taranaki dairymen.

Brickworks were established in Turuturu Road } Hawera, in May, 1904, and a considerable quantity of bricks and tiles was turned out for a time. It was found -that the material was faulty and the manufacture was later discontinued.