MILK GRADING

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2167, 4 June 1914, Page 8

MILK GRADING

. PAYMENT FOll PUIUTT. MR. CUDDIE AND SOUTH ISLAND COMPANIES. (By Telezraph.—Press Association.; Dunedin, Juno 3. The principal discussion at the annual meeting oh the South Island Dairy Association was introduced by Mr. J. Lunisdcn (Druminond) who moved: "That Mr. Cuddle's scheme for the payment for milk on quality be recommended for adoption by all factories." The mover said that ho took it tor granted that all were <|uite familiar with the proposal, whioh had been widely circulated. It 'was one of tho most important schemes that had conic before the association for a long time. If they a3 a whole to maintain the highest standard they must begin with the highest quality of milk. It would stimulate suppliers, factories, and the industry as a whole to maintain the highest standard of excellence. It was a fact th.lt New Zealand cheese did not maintain the reputation which it had soven years ago. There were more factories, and sonic'of the younger factories had not gone tin to tho mark although tho largest factories were still able to maintain a high standard. In view of a possible widening of markets throughout the world it was necessary to maintain tho highest possible, standard. Mr. Hill (Apariiua) seconded tho motion.

Mi-. Cuddie, Director of the Dairy Division of the Agricultural Department, said that ho had not much to add to what had been already published by him. Tho proposal had been very weil received in both islands. Factory directors and others had written to say that they were heartily with him in this matter. Only on Monday there had been a, meeting of 30 delegates from the Northern Peninsula, Auckland, and they had accepted tho proposal outright. They had made an agreement not to accept any supplies of cream (no eheeso being made at this factory) that had been rejected on the score of quality by any other dairy company. That was a very important matter. It.would he of little use to adopt the proposal at all without some such understanding It seemed to him that tliey wore "faced with this position: The niilk supply to eheeso factories was not .improving 'and any experienced factory manager would say that he found it more difficult to' mako good cheese than he did some years ago. The question was: Is the supply going back'in quality? He believed that in some, cases it was "oing back. The inspection of dairy farms had not been attended by very much success. The number of men tlic dairy division had available was altogether too small to cover anything lik o the wholo of the .ground and to increase tho number of inspectors would bo a mistake for the cost was heavy and dairy farmers objected lo over-inspection." A great many of tTiom did not. take kindlv to that sort of thing. The time of the'men of the dairy division was. mostly taken up with instructing work at factories. In this proposal, however, they had something that was going to meet tho case and he could not see that it would inflict any liardsliip on anyone. If all the cheese were made, from good milk tho product and its price would be hotter. The cost of the test was triflin<*, say, about £5 in tho case of tho factories, and very much less for small lactones. Perhaps , tho most satisfactory plan would he for a number of factories to group themselves together and employ a man for.the purpose of making tests. Possibly an officer could test ten factories if they were situated close together. They would require to pay between them a salary of £2JO a year. Ho felt sure that it- would be a "n-ood investment. Ho thought that ono test each week would be sufficient. Ho saw no necessity for ,i daily test! Tho Department was taiito willing to help them in the matter and was anxious to see tho proposal adopted. Our cheese as a whole was not giving the satisfaction it ought to give. Undoubtedly a lot of excellent cheese was sent. Home, but our agent told them plainly that Now Zealand,cheese was riot as good as Canadian. In some eases, indeed, Now Zealand cheese had been returned. These, of course, were isolated cases, aad'tliey showed where Now Zealand stood, ;mc! also the necessity for recognising as soon as possible that an improved oral standard would benefit everybody concerned, i

Tho industry had Rrown to an enormous extent. Ho understood that the output last year was 39,000 tons, and ho believed that it would be 50,000 tons pbr annum in the near future. Mr. Cuddio pointed out that New Zealand had to compete against the hest in the world. He felt sure that if the proposal were adopted and carried into effect tho result would be an improved standard of quality and higher prices.We could not afford to have a stigma oast on/the industry at the Home end, and ,he hoped that dairy companies of the South Island would give tho proposal their hearty support. Mr. Cuddie assured questioners that it was not intended to adopt any scheme that would frighten suppliers away. Altogether possibly a reduction by ono penny of the price given for b'uttcriat ior one month would lie quito ample. Ho also made it clear that it was not proposed chat there should bo two orders of cheese. The idea was that if t'hn farmer got less money for inferior milk ho would soon inquire into the cause of its inferiority and would promptly effect an improvement. In the ensuing discussion Mr. Middleton thought that if the curd test was instituted it- would jiot l>o. a were case of guessing; They, would find out the culprits and ( penalise them. The secretary read a letter irom Ashburton urging objections to the proposal and hoping tho motion would he rejected, but the meeting agreed that Mr. Ulddio had already satisfactorily met these objections which wore made from a lack of knowledge. One of them was its to classification of cream on a weekly test. .

Mr. Cuddle said ho had never advocated this. In the case of cream the test must be made regularly on its arrival at the factory as several companies had been doing all last season in Auckland. A factory managor would' make daily tests and tho Government officers would mako a weekly check. - In tho course of further discussion opinions differed as to the probable effects of the scheme. A few delegates thought that the proposal would prove too expensive tor small factories. Other delegates believed the scheme was in the right direction and worthy of a trial. . Tho motion was carried without odiidsition.