H.—29.

The work commenced on Ist October, 1933, and was continued throughout the remainder of the financial year. The suppliers' milks were graded each day by the curd and methylene blue tests at the factory, and periodically examined by Mr. Udy, Scientist to the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Co., as for microscopic count. The manufacture was in charge of Mr. H. A. Foy, of the Dairy Division, and the company's manager of the factory, Mr. A. Laurent. The cheese has been manufactured for export, and the various consignments are being reported on by the Dairy Division's officers in London. A general summary will be compiled after the work is completed and London reports all to hand. Dairy-factory Managers—Regulations, 1934. At the request of the New Zealand Dairy-factory Managers' Association, regulations were framed making it obligatory on all dairy-factory managers to register as such, and these were gazetted on the 22nd February, 1934, and came into force as from the Ist April. Provision is made therein that on application and payment of the prescribed fee of 10s. every person who is employed as a manager of a creamery or cheese-factory or both on the coming into force of the regulations shall be entitled to an appropriate certificate of registration, provided he is of good character and reputation. Provision is also made for the registration of persons not employed as managers who, by virtue of their qualifications and experience, are deemed competent to perform the duties of a manager. A Board of eight members, to be known as the Dairy-factory Managers' Registration Board, has been set up, and it will be the function of the Board to administer these regulations effectively. Inspection of New Zealand Dairy-produce in Britain. This work, as in the past, has been carried out by Messrs. W. Wright and F. H. Taylor, assisted over a portion of this year by Mr. G. M. Valentine, who formerly was Dairy-factory Superintendent at Massey College, and who relieved Mr. Gγ. V. Were, the latter returning to New Zealand in August last. Many reports on the quality and condition of the produce on arrival in Britain have been forwarded to the Division, which, after perusal, are sent on to the dairy companies concerned. As a means of checking up the grading at this end these reports are of the greatest value. In addition, these officers keep in close touch with and report on all matters of interest to the industry. Mr. Valentine will be returning to the Dominion towards the close of the present dairy year. Certificate-of-record Testing. The 1933 results for C.O.R. testing showed a slight increase over 1932. Considering that the depression was practically at its worst during the period under review, this position must be considered very satisfactory. First-class certificates of record were issued to 507 cows in 1933, and of this total 461 cows qualified in the Yearly Test Division and the remaining 46 in the 305-day Division. In addition, 38 second-class certificates were issued. These totals compare with 486 first-class (43 of these being the 305-day Division) and 25 second-class certificates issued in 1932. The first certificates under the recently introduced " 111 Class C.0.R." division were issued during the calendar year 1933, the number being 86; of these, 53 were for records completed during the year, the remaining 33 applying to past records and issued by special request of the owners of the cows concerned. Government Official Herd-testing. Whereas the C.O.R. system is classified in calendar years, the official herd-test year closes on the 30th September, and to that date in 1933 the O.H.T. system had completed six years' operation. For the year under review 1,692 cows were tested, these being in the herds of 163 C.O.R. testing breeders. This represents an increase of three breeders and a decrease of 106 cows over the year ending 30th September, 1932. On the basis of all cows in milk 180 days or more, the average yield of the cows tested under this system last year was 309-78 lb. butterfat, as compared with 289-94 lb. for the preceding twelve months, an increase of 19-84 lb. butterfat. Ordinary Dairy-herd Testing. Herd-testing reached a peak during the 1932-33 season, the number of cows tested and the average production per tested cow being the highest figure yet attained. Some 286,054 cows were systematically tested, their average production being 255-57 lb. butterfat. This compared with 259,857 cows and 236-87 lb. butterfat for the 1931-32 season. Nearly 91 per cent, of the total tested were tested under the group system (259,881 cows), while 25,364 cows were tented under the Association Ownsample system, and the balance of 809 by the dairy companies on behalf of their suppliers. The tested cows represented approximately 16-6 per cent, of the total cows in milk in the Dominion. The Government subsidy to herd-testing was continued, £6,000 having been granted for the past season. Several meetings of the N.Z. Herd-testing Central Executive were held during the year. Appreciation. The year has been a particularly arduous one for the staff, and their able and efficient co-operation is gratefully acknowledged. Thanks are also extended to co-operating organizations for their assistance and co-operation during the year.

7—H. 29.

49