LOCAL INDUSTRIES

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10286, 22 May 1919, Page 7

LOCAL INDUSTRIES

EVIDENCE TAKEN DAIRY HERD TESTING AND INCREASED YIELDS. Tho Industries Committee of the House of Representatives—Messrs O. A. Wilkinson (Bgmont, chairman), J. Oraigie (Timaru), J. T. M. Hornsby (Wairarapa), R. Hudson (Motueka), J. P. Luke (Wellington North), Dr. Newman (Wellington East), H. Poland (Ohinemuri), and W. A. Veitch (Wanganui)—sat in Wellington yesterday to take evidence. Mr W. M. Singleton, assistant director of the dairy division of the Agricultural Department, said that, according to the last census in January, 1918, there were 793,216 dairy cows in tho Dominion. It was difficult to arrive at the average production of butter-fat per cow, because of overlapping during recent years. In 1916-17, the average production was 161.81 b per cow, as against 142.1 in 1910-11, an increase of 19.71 bin six years. For the year 1916-17, it was estimated that the increased yield was worth, in exports to tho Dominion, about £1,276^000; and, besides tho increase in exports, there wore additional by-producte—whey and skim-milk fed to calves and pigs. He believed that, considering that tho country had not been breeding dairy cattle for decades, that could be considered satisfactory. The shorthorn cow was the foundation of the dairy herds in New Zealand; but 1918, as compared with 1908, showed a considerable evolution going on in, connection with the dairy cattle of tho Dominion. The shorthorn was giving way to more special purpose dairy breeds, which produced butter a good deal more cheaply than any other animal. In Taranaki there was, perhaps, the greatest average production in New Zealand. The figures for the last ten years showed that in that district the number of purebred shorthorn bulla had decreased 90 per cent., while purebred Jerseys, Frieaians, and Ayrshires had increased 60 per cent. Taranaki was a district of nigh ‘land values, and such districts seemed to demand the special purpose cow. The associations for testing the yield of cows had been in operation for ten years past, and showed excellent results. 25 COWS EQUAL 54.

One man had improved the average yield of his herd from 2581 b to 3091 b in four years. Another man had improved his from 215 to 282 in six years; and j et another stated that he was now producing more butter-fat from 25s cows than he formerly produced from’ 54. Between.-155 and 160 breeders were how co-operating with the associations in tho work of yield-testing,, and they expected to have a considerable increase on the number next year. The Government was doing a good thing for the dairy farmer in connection with tho icsting of yields and authenticating of breeds. Small dairy farmers could club together to buy purebred bulls, and the Government sold a number of such bulls each year. / Replying to "Mi - Luke, he snid that ho did not think that the production of glaxo, etc., would jeopardise the supjy of milk to the cities at a fair price. To Mr L'raigie: He believed that more knowledge was what was required In the smaller dairying districts.

To Mr Poland: The Government was helping the dairy farmers by importing and breeding purebred animals and by testing herds. ■ Mr Poland suggested that tho Government 1 ’should appoint instructors to "o round and explain to the farmers how greatly yield-testing would increase the production of their herds.’ Mr Singleton: It should pay. Mr Hudson said that there was such a system at work in Ireland.

CASEIN PATENT RIGHTS. Mir D. Cuddie, Director of the Dairy Division of the Department of Agriculture, stated, in reply to the chairman, that ho could not say whether the patent rights of the Wanganui Casein Company were valid. That was a matter for the court to decide. He did not think for one moment that it was a German process. It was a Danish process. Mr Nielson, who took out the patent rights in New Zealand, was a Dane. There were other processes, outside the patent, by which casein could ho made. The company charged £2 10s per ton for casein made by their process, if it was sold through Nathan and Co., Wellington, and £6 per ton if it was sold in the open market. Mr Hornsby asked if it was not u German patent, and therefore nationalised hy the Government during tho war.

Mr Cuddie said that the patent had been acquired by a New Zealand Company before the war. Mi’ Hornsby asked if the penal rate system adopted by the company was not in restraint of trade, and, therefore, unlawful. Mr Cuddie said he could not decide that point. The next beet process was not so good, and dearer than the company’s process. Mr Luke: Would it not he better for tho Government to acquire the patent rights, and make it a State process? Mr Cuddle said that »ome system should he adopted to make tho process free to the people. The total production of casein in New Zealand last year nos 486 tons, and the latest quotation foi it lu London was £64 a ton. , The chairman remarked that the royalty of £5 a ton was prohibitive. Mr Luke: We ought to clear it out. CITY MILK SUPPLIES.

Replying to Mir Luke, the witness said that the percentage of tuberculosis in New Zealand was very low, and compared very favourably with that in other countries. He did not think that tho production of glaxo, etc., would jeopardise iho supply of milk to the towns. The land near the towns wias not often suitable for such purpose*. Mr Luke: Would it surprise you to know that tho Wellington City Council hns’ to secure milk from as far away ns Hawke’s Bay? In reply to Mr Luke, Mr Cuddie said that there would be difficulties in compelling all dairy farmers within a certain radius of towns and cities to supply tho urban populations with milk.

Replying to the chairman, Mr Caddie said that the butter-fat levy would continue till the end of the 1920 season, the Imperial Government having bought tlie whole exportable surplus till then. Glaxo factories and condensed milk factories, otc., escaped the levy. There had been a reduction of S per cent, in the production of

butter last season, and the production of cheese had increased to a somewhat greater extent. The reduction in the butter output was due in part, however, to a poor season at the start, and to the shortage of labour. To Mr Yeitdh: If the municipalities engaged in dairy farming that would ensure the supply of milk, but it would increase the price, because of the overhead charges and the fact that they would hare to pay standard wages. LOSS BY AUTOMATIC STAMPING MACHINES. Evidence was given by Mr H. A. Huggins, accountant to the Post Office, with reference to the use of automatic stamping machines introduced by the Government in 1905, and allowed to be used in the Dominion ever since. The attitude of the department to the machine was, he stated, neutral. The machines were not owned by the Government, but by a company, and the Government licensed the use of them. It was a great convenience to business people, who used the machine, and for that reason the department had overlooked certain defects in working. There were 520 machines in use, and it was estimated that tie extra wages paid by the department ■because of the use of the machines was £I2OO a year, as with postage-stamps no bookkeeping or collecting of money was required. The question had been raised in Christchurch as to -whether the department would not take over the machines; but the machine company had to replace the old machines before the end of 1920, and up to date only 136 of them had been replaced. Further, the department did not wish to enter into a business, even in regard to the latest machines, that was not in its own interest.

In reply to Mr Wilkinson, Mr Huggins stated that he had seen the allegations as to stamps being used again and again, the obliteration marks having been removed. That, however, only applied to stamps of large value, and they were now cancelled by being perforated.

Mr Wilkinson ‘ said that they could clean them, and some were used three times over.

Mr Huggins: I may say that all the cleaning was done in Germany. (Laughter.) > To Dr Newman; The old machines might under-register the value of the stamping done, and so subject the Government to considerable loss. Hr Newman; I don’t see why the State should lose .£I2OO a year and probably more, by the use of these machines. SEEDSMEN SEEK PROTECTION. Evidence was given by Mr H. 0. Gibbons and other representatives of the seed trade, who asked for duties to be imposed on foreign seeds .prepared and packed ready for sale, and for a repeal of tbe duty on catalogues and other printed matter. It was pointed out that, whereas packets of seeds cerate in free, if a Now Zealand seedsman wanted empty - packets .to put has own seeds in, duty was charged on them.

Protection for the seed-growing industry was also requested by Mr P. R. Cooper. Other evidence given during the sitting is reported under separate headings.