OFFICERS OF THE DIVISION

Taranaki Daily News, 11 September 1934, Page 20 (Supplement)

OFFICERS OF THE DIVISION

STAFF FORMED IN YEAR 1889 LONG SERVICE TO THE INDUSTRY. LOCAL TRAINING OF EXPERTS. It is 45 years ago since the first dairy instructor, John Sawers, was appointed, and as the present Director of the Dairy Division, Mr. W. M. Singleton, remarks, rendered great service to the industry for many years. The next appointment was that of Mr. C. R. Valentine. By the year 1895 it was seen that the industry could be firmly established and in that year Mr. J. B. Mac Ewan, an expert trained in Canada, was appointed. He left the Division after two years’ service and ■founded the business firm of which he is

still in control. A year later Mr. R. W. D. Robertson, a well-known resident of Taranaki, was appointed Dairy Instructor and Grader, and he also left the Division to enter the business side of the industry. 1

In 1898 Mr. J. A. Ruddick, also a Canadian trained expert, was appointed Dairy. Commissioner, the new title denoting the growth of the Division and of the industry. He only remained in New Zealand a year, but Mr. Singleton states that during that time Mr. Ruddick accomplished much in placing both the administrative and manufacturing sides of the industry on a better footing. Mr. J. A. Kinsella was appointed Dairy Instructor in 1899 and in the next year, when Mr. Ruddick left, Mr. Kinsella became the third Canadian to hold the position of Chief of the Division. In that year, however, Mr. D. Cuddie joined the staff, to become six years later the first New Zealand-trained Dairy Commissioner. In 1901 Mr. W. M. Singleton, the present director, and also a Canadian, wa§ appointed a dairy instructor and grader. His services to the industry during his instruction period included the introduction of such important and far reaching factors as the curd test, the acidimeter, and prepared pure culture starters, all of which are still of major importance in cheese manufacture.

In 1903 Mr. J. Pedersen was imported from Denmark with the object of assisting in the introduction of the Danish system of pasteurising cream for buttermaking.

In 1907 the policy of allowing experts to visit other countries for the purpose of acquiring knowledge as to the latest developments in the manufacture and marketing of dairy produce in the principal dairying countries of the world was inaugurated, Mr. Cuddie being the first officer sent abroad. In 1912 Miss G. IT. Davies was appointed an instructress in soft and fancy cheese-making. She remained in New Zealand from 1912 to 1921 and during that period trained many farm cheesemakers and others in these particular arts. In 1921 Mr. W. M. Singleton was appointed- Director of the Division on the retirement, owing to ill health, of Mr. D. Cuddie. In 1929 he visited Canada, the United States, Great Britain and the

Continent in connection with dairy industry matters.

A new phase in administration began when Mr. W. Wright was sent to London for the' purpose of remaining there as Inspector of New Zealand Dairy Products. This was an important and much needed appointment and provided the very necessary link between the New Zealand manufacturer and the British consumer. In 1925 Mr. A. C. Ross was appointed Mr. Wright’s assistant in England, returning in 1930 and being replaced by Mr. F. H. Taylor.

During 193*, 1932 and 1933 Instructors Wood, Were and Valentine visited Britain in turn and in that order for the purpose of studying the marketing end of the industry. Each officer remained in Britain about a year, while in 1932 Dr. G. Moir, dairy chemist, was appointed officer in charge of the Division’s laboratory at Wallaceville and the laboratory’s services to the industry extended. .Previously Mr. G. F. V. Morgan, N.D.A., N.D.D., of Wales, had been appointed to the Division as dairy bacteriologist. “He was stationed,” states Mr.

Singleton, "at the dairy laboratory at Wallaceville where the Division’s investigational work was being considerably extended. Mr. Morgan during his brief stay of some three years rendered invaluable service to the industry.”' As the list of the principal officers of the Division is perused it will be noted that the authorities were not afraid to seek advice from other lands. Nevertheless, as Mr. Singleton states, “the Dominion is justified in feeling proud of the fact that except in the early stages, when experienced men were not available within the colony, all the Division’s instructors and graders have received their training in New Zealand. These officers are chosen from the more successful factory managers, and in addition to dairy factory experience the majority have had dairy farming experience. “New Zealand initiated and developed the first Government grading of dairy produce forwarded • for export, and the good reputation of the system is world wide. Our graders, like our instructors, are all locally trained, and it says a great deal for the men as well as the system that such efficiency and uniformity is maintained when the grading ports are so many and scattered. It has also been shown that attention has not been confined to New Zealand. In addition to permanent inspectors in Britain—men who have had long practical experience in this Dominion—it has, during recent years, been the Government's policy to keep a constant stream of experts going Home for a period, in order that they may be able better to understand the consumer's viewpoint, and the market requirements, and as a consequence on their return to guide our factory managers in their manufacturing methods.” The wisdom of this policy few who are connected with the industry would question.