THE DAIRY INDUSTRY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1566, 9 October 1912, Page 10

THE DAIRY INDUSTRY.

An alleged weakness.® What ho termed n weakness in the dairying industry was referred to in the Legislative Council by tho Jion. W. W. M'Cardlc. "This alleged weakness," said Mr. M'Cardle, was in connection with tho tests that the farmers receive when their milk is delivered at the factories. There was a certain amount of discontent in the district in which he resided. Olio fanner delivering his milk at the factory 'would obtain a test of 6, and up to G. 5 and G. 7, whilst others might get a test of perhaps It. There was always a suspicion . in the minds of farmers that a particular individual was being favoured by the man. who was running the creamery. Jfo did not say that there was any unfair treatment going on, but he did urge that it was necessary, ill order to protect the industry, that tin's sort of thing should bo mado absolutely impossible. Tho method necessary to bring about that change was that, the Government should have amongst its experts men who could go round to the creameries and factories I and samplo the milk from the cans at different periods, when the milk was being supplied to tho creamery, and that tiiey should make these tests public to every man who supplied that' particular creamery.' There bad been a good deal of testing going on amongst the settlers themselves, and sonic had been getting their milk tested outside, and the. tests had not, in many instances, corresponded with the tests made at the creameries. This brought about a visit from the Government Inspector, but what (lid lie do? He did not take the milk from the cans himself, but tested tho milk that had been taken for tho purpose.by the man who was running the creamery. If it was to l>e a genuine test, the creameryman's- sample should not be taken at all, but a diti'erent sample altogether." If what he asked were carried out, the position would be that during the season the milk could be tested by the inspector onoe or twice, and creamcry manager would not know when tho inspector was coming round to mnko such test. That was the only way to obtain satisfactory results, and to give satisfaction to tho fanner. The farmer knew that the inspector would give genuine and straight results. It ■ would not, .Mr. M'Cardle claimed, be an expensive process, and it would be the means of assisting to strengthen 0110 of our greatest industries.