FARMING NOTES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 219, 30 September 1940, Page 3

FARMING NOTES

MILKING MACHINERY QUESTION OF STANDARDISING RESEARCH PROCEEDING The question of standardising milking machinery was receiving careful consideration,, stated the New Zealand Dairy Board in a letter which was tabled at a meeting of the South Auckland Dairy Association at Hamilton. Research was being prosecuted, said the letter, to determine if it were possible to draw up specifications for a standard milking machine that would be efficient from the point of view of mechanical simplicity and durability, milk hygiene and the effect on the udder. The question of setting up standards by the Stand-* ards Institute was also being considered, and if it were found that suitable standards could be determined,. these would be presented to the milking machine investigation committee with a view to having the necessary action taken. SHORTAGE OF CANS affects increased supply TO CHEESE FACTORIES The shortage of cans was stated to be a contributing factor in the difficulty being experienced in increasing cheese production, during a discussion at a meeting in Hamilton of the South Auckland Dairy Association. "We could get a considerably greater supply if we could obtain cans, and the position will be certainly difficult in the flush period," said Mr W. N. Perry, chairman of the Bruntwood Company. His company was 500 cans in arrears, said Mr C, J. Parlane, general manager of the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company. Mr W. Marshall, chairman of directors of the same company* said that some suppliers after considerable difficulty had changed over to cheese, but unfortunately no cans had been available to cope with the extra supply, Mr P. Hawke, Hinuera, said that apparently cans were available districts where they were not needed. Why could these cans not be sent to districts that urgently needed them? Unless different conditions were introduced it was going to be difficult to secure the amount of cheese required, said Mr W. Darrall, Tatuanui. Although milk from an extra 750 cows had been jDromised to his company, no extra milk had been delivered, said Mr C. Ireland, of the Tokoroa Company.

BACON PIGS CORRECTION IN WEIGHTS "Although you have been told from several sources —and we ourselves are told the same thing—to carry our porkers through to bacon weights up to 2001b, I want to make a correction and inform you that bacon pigs should be taken only to 1801b,"-said Mi A. J. Murdoch,; a member of the New* Zealand Dairy Board, at the New Zealand Dai(ry Company's smoke concert in Ham-, ilton, "Wo are "not going tc yccept the responsibility for the mistake, for it was made by a departmental officer." Mr Murdoch, after paying tribute to the manner in which the farmers were striving for extra production asked for by Britain, stressed the need for unity in the industry and the necessity for producing up to the limit, even though the farmers did. not agree with the recompense tiiey were receiving for .the job dono.„ He stressed that whereas, farmers had been told that they would get the full price for baconers up to 2001b the position was that the full price would be paid onlj r up to J B'-) lb.

CONTRACT SHEARING INCREASE AGREED UPON At a meeting of shearing contractors in Hawke's Bay, it was decided to increase the shearing contract price for the coming season. It was stated at the meeting, that as the increased cost of living had increased wages for shearers and shed hands to about lS per cent, it was to counter this that the new prices had been decided upon. The new charges are to be £3 12s 6d per 100, where the contractor provides all food, and in cases where contractors provide all food other than meat, the price be £3 10s per hundred. The average contract price in Hawke's. Bay last year was £3 3s per 100.