N.Z. DAIRY COMPANY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4630, 26 November 1923, Page 1

N.Z. DAIRY COMPANY.

MEETING OF SUPPLIERS. The quarterly meeting of the N.Z-Co-op. Dairy Company’s suppliers’ commit'eemen on the Hauraki Plains was held at Ngatea on Friday last. Messrs W. E. Hale (director), A. J. Sinclair (acting manager), W. Blakeway (branch manager), A. Tattersail, A. E. Missen, and H. E. Harvey (Ngatea factory manager) represented the company, and there were about 4’5 suppliers present from all parts of .the Plains. - Mr Sinclair gave a resume of the company’s marketing operations during the latter end of the past season ani the early part of the present one. He then dealt with the Export Control Board, and outlined the proceedings at the recent dairy producers’ conference, .where their “ticket” was nominated. A point stressed was that the N.Z. Farmers’ Union recognised that the Wellington conference was a very representative one, and the ticket should be supported, but that •the Dairy Farmers’ Union had adopted an attitude that tended to split the vote. When question time came Mr SUtton of Turua, said that Mr Sinclair’s remarks put a different complexion on the question to that outlined by the Dairy Farmers’ Union. Not knowing the position thoroughly, a resolution had been carried supporting the Dairy Farmers’ Union. v In regard to the institution of the waul system Mr Sinclair said that the Government would probably amend the act to permit of this if the present system was found unwieldy. A Kaihere committeeman challenged the statement that the Dairy Farmers’ Union by its attitude was helping the proprietary interests. Mr Sinclair said that by putting forward a ticket they would tend to split the vote, with the restult that an opposition man might be appointed. In regard to the number of men eligible to vote, Mr Sinclair said that every man who supplied a factory could do so. There Were probably only- 29,000 genuine dairy farmers, but there were also a huge number of men milking one or two cows and supplying a factory now and then. Mr C. W. Parfitt, Pipiroa, moved that this meeting of committeemen endorse the ticket by the Dairy Producers’ Council, and pledges itself to support it. s Mr W. 'Madgwick, of Huirau Road, seconded the motion. As an amendment Mr Smith, of Orongo, moved that the meeting pledge itself to support only the three nominated by the council in the Auckland province. Mr T. McLoughlin, Kaihere, said it was recognised that the council had selected. the best men in the Auckland province- Farmers did noit know the candidates from the ether provinces, and should recognise that the council would ,choose the best men from those provinces. ■" The amendment lapsed for want of ' a seconder, and the motion was put and carried by 29 to 2. After the luncheon adjournment questions were invited on any of the ope’-ations of the company. In answer to Mr Wallis Mr Sinclair said that at present it was not known whether New Zealand butter would be sold by the Control Board under separate brands or not. In reply to Mr Davidson Mr Sinclair said that head graders were sent round to visit the factories so as to maintain the same standard in all the factories, Mr Davidson advocated that testers should be se»t round for the same purpose. Mr Hale said that tests had fluctuated dll over the company’s territory during the past winter more than at at any time previously, owing to the severe winter. He had brought up the matter at the last board meeting and a tester had been appointed, as suggested by Mr Davidson. * Mr Davidson said that cream tests varied, though the screw on the separator had not been altered. Mr Missen said that there were many factors .that, would alter the test; The pressure was greater when using a big vat; temperature affected the test, while slipping belts had a big effect Separators sent approximately 10 per cent. of> the milk into the cream can, sp the test would be affected by the test of the milk. In reply to Mr Wilkins Mr Sinclair said that head graders graded cream on points. Superfine cream was that which would make superfine butter, and was indicated by 91 or more points by the Government graders. Discussing tests, Mr Sinclair said that suppliers got the best result when their tests were from 40 tio 45 points. This test also suited the factory best. The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the company’s officials for attending.