DAIRY MANAGERS' CONFERENCE

Waikato Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5325, 4 June 1913, Page 2

DAIRY MANAGERS' CONFERENCE

+■ OPENED THIS MORNING

A conference arranged by the National Dairy Association of New Zealand in conjunction with the factory Managers’ Association was opened in the King’s Theatre. Hamilton, this morning, Mr A. Morton, president of the National Dairy Association, occupying the chair. Mr A. E. Manning, Mayor of Hamilton, was present. WELCOMED BY MAYOR.

Mr Mannng tendered, on behalf of the people of Hamilton, a very hearty welcome to. those present. It must be a great pleasure to them to come to Hamilton and discuss matters of common interest. They would be glad to hear that the Premier had decided to set up a Board of Agriculture. Townsfolk did not quite understand the importance of the dairying industry. It should be remembered that men like the chairman, together with the many inspectors and graders, were giving their lives to the work. He trusted that much profit would result from the conference.

THE CHAIRMAN’S ADDRESS. Mr Morton thanked the Mayor for the kindly welcome extended. He fell that, as Mr Manning put it, they got great pleasure and profit from meeting together in conference and discussing matters of mutual interest. They had attended the show last year, and had then been invited to attend and hold a conference this year, and the invitation had again been repeated. This year they had the co-operation of the Factory Managers’ Association, so that the conference would be fully representative of the great dairying industry, and the reading of the various papers should be most instructive, lie would like to congratulate the Winter Show officials upon the great display they had made. He had seen last year’s show, and he considered that this year’s was infinitely finer. Palmerston North had previously held the palm for machinery, but the display at the Waikato Winter Show this year showed that the people of that town would have to bestir themselves to retain it. He desired to congratulate Hamilton town also upon the groat strides made since his last visit. It was his opinion that within ten years Hamilton would be the largest inland town in the Dominon. (Hear, hear). He felt that the dairying people could justly claim credit for this result, because without doubt the great advance made was principally due to the settlement of people upon what used to be known as the waste lands of the Waikato. Not only, had Hamilton and the surrounding district made great strides during the past year, but the dairying industry itself had also gone ahead at a very rapid rate. The only commodity whose ex|>ort value exceeded that of dairying products was wool. The speaker was quite sure that within five or sixyears dairy produce would forge ahead even of wool in export value. Apart from the monetary value of the exports the industry itself was of value, and the settlement of people on the land was assisted. In comparing dairying districts with sheep farming districts it was obvious that in the case of the former settlement was closer, roads were better, schools were much more numerous, and social conditions wore superior. Viewing, in short, the dairying districts from an economical and social standpoint it was apparent that they were ahead of any other districts. It seemed only a few years since the Waikato consisted of swamp' and litree scrub. The change since had been amazing. The country to which he belonged, Taranaki, had always prided itself upon being the home of the dairying industry, but if Auckland continued to make the progress in the future that it had done during the last three or four years it must surpass Taranaki. There had been great disappointment felt by farmers at the prices obtained on the London market for last season’s produce. The speaker fell sure that the actions which resuited in such low prices were anything but creditable to those concerned at the other end. He was convinced that New Zealand produce (luring last year on the London market had not been given a square deal, it was absolutely certain that had the produce been sold on the market at its actual value they would have, obtained Us to more per cent.

for butter and .'is to 5s per cent, more for cheese. He had been surprised yesterday to hear the Premier refer b> the poor quality of the New Zealand butter sold in Loudon last y<Jj»r, This was the lirst he had heard of it. In regard b> cheese, however, there was no doubt that a large proportion of the cheese exported from the Dominion contained excessive moisture. The Dairy Commissioner had taken the matter up, anil doubtless Hie facts would lie placed before the various factory managers. in regard to tile greatly increased use of milking machines, it was apparent that people who could not produce clean milk by band-milking would get still worse results by using machines, ami the speaker was of opinion that a Government Departmental officer should from time to time visit the farms where machines were used and see that they were kept clean. The speaker went on to deal with (he work of tire National Dairy Association. He wanted to give public, denial, to the statement that the association competed with exporters. If the new U.S.A. tariff went through a great deal of Canadian produce would be diverted to the Slates, thus improving the market for New Zealand produce at Vancouver and London. The following addresses were then read; “Cream Testing in Relation to Over-run,” by Mr G. M. Valentine; “The Science of Agriculture,” by Mr Primrose McConnell, manager Ruakura State Farm; "The Value of Seed-Testing," by Mr A. 11. Cockayne, Government Biologist; “Wanted A Gold Mine,” by Mr W. .1. Byrne, uliicer in charge Thames Valley Testing Association; "A Factory Manager’s Stewardship,” by Mr A. Stirling, factory manager, Whakapirau, and “Inspection of Dairy Farm Methods,” by Mr -I. Rutherford, manager Te Aroha Dairy Company. During the afternoon sitting a number of cachets from the Ruakura Government Farm were present. The various papers read will he published in due course as space permits.