CONTROL OF DAIRYING

Taranaki Daily News, 29 May 1933, Page 12

CONTROL OF DAIRYING

FARM INSTRUCTION NEEDED. MORE IMPARTIAL GRADING. “Suppliers who forward a raw product of indifferent quality and who, if their milk or cream were graded down, would be likely to leave a company for another one, will be checked,” said the Director of the Dairy Division, Mr. W. M. Singleton, when discussing the new dairy regulations, the object of which is to bring about an improvement in the quality of New Zealand dairy produce. The prohibition against suppliers changing their companies during the manufacturing season from August 1 to May 31 would enable cheese and milk graders to take a more impartial view of their work. The clause left it open for a supplier to change companies during the winter months of June and July.

Mr. Singleton said it was considered that the clause would appeal to the great bulk of shareholders in dairy companies as being fair and equitable. Dairy companies had to provide not only accommodation for suppliers but they must at the beginning of the season provide the requisites necessary for manufacture and export. If suppliers did not continue with a company throughout the season overhead costs were likely to be increased.

The increase in the vinimum points for first grade cheese from 90 to 91 points would mean an improvement in the lower quality first grade cheese, and therefore to the cheese as a whole. The present percentage of second grade cheese was considered to be too small to induce greater effort, in the direction of higher quality. The regulation providing for differential payments to suppliers of milk to cheese factories and skimming stations was most important. It was considered that the provisions of this regulation, combined with the giving of instruction in dairying sheds, would have a beneficial influence in effecting improvements in quality. The percentage of dairymen in favour of Dominion farm instruction was growing, said Mr. Singleton, and it appeared that universal instruction would have to be faced by the industry. It would prove a good investment In the Waikato the dairy companies had taken the initiative in. this matter and were greatly to be commended. Another factor that would make for improvement in quality was the regulation providing for delivery f milk to factories before 9 a.m. The longer milk or cream stood in the sun the more it deteriorated. The present regulations were largely a consolidation of regulations and they brought in rules that were urgently needed by the industry.