MILK TO BE GRADED

Putaruru Press, Volume VIII, Issue 352, 21 August 1930, Page 6

MILK TO BE GRADED

AT SUNNY PARK FACTORY. Prizes To Be Offered. The question of grading tlie milk received at the Te Foi dairy factory was discussed at the annual meeting on Thursday, when it was decided that grading be adopted this year, but that six prizes be given instead of a differential payment being made.

Mr. Bell, the chairman, said the grading of milk was a much more difficult matter than grading cream. The Dairy Division recommended that the human element should be eliminated as much as possible as noses differed. (Laughter). There were two methods of testing, that of the methylene blue and by the microscope. The blue test had been carried out by the manager for some time. Another difficulty was that of differential payments. It was of little use grading unless deferential payments were agreed to, and that was a matter for the meeting.

The manager, Mr. N. H. Madsen, stated the object was to improve the milk supply. So long as grading was adopted in some form or other it would be satisfactory. Professor Riddet recommended the methylene blue method, and he was of the opinion that if this were adopted with differential payments they would get a better article. It was only a matter of time before grading would be made compulsory, but the Department asked that factories adopt grading on a voluntarily basis for a start. The whole secret was that 40 c.c. were taken in a flask and 2 c.c. of the solution was added, which turned the milk blue. Bacteria then turned the milk white. Good milk should remain blue for five hours, and a good class sample should remain blue for two hours at least. He thought that 75 per cent of the milk supplied to the factory would pass as first-class, but the other proportion would lower the quality. If grading was brought in gradually there would be no hardship. The samples would be of the average milk supplied, just like samples of cream. Mr. Wright stated he knew the methylene blue test and the difficulty he saw was in the fact that one test had to be over a period. It would be hard if a man was penalised over ten days for one little error.- He suggested that for the first year three prizes be offered for the suppliers with the highest graded milk. If the amount offered was £ls, it could be split up into £7, £5 and £3. The prizes would be worth going for and there was also the honour attached to winning. He felt that was the best system for the first year, though others might not agree with him. He pointed out that where milk was a few hours old the test was not so satisfactory. The mixing of the night and morning milk was also a handicap. He moved that it be a recommendation to the directors to offer three prizes for the first year for the suppliers sending in the highest-graded milk. Mr. G. Read, in seconding the motion pro forma, thought the idea was little good, and did nor work <—t fairly. (Laughter). If a supplier saw he had no chance for a prize he might give up trying. Mr. Harry suggested that the grading list be put up on the stage. This would tend to spur suppliers on. Mr. Madsen, in reply, stated that any system of grading was better than none at all. In regard to mam-

mitis, if milk so affected were sent in it could not be first-class, and thus should not be paid for as such. In regard to cheese grading, the graders took no excuse, and whether the railways or anyone else were to blame, the cheese was marked second grade if it was a poor article. The chairman thought that if differential payments were made they should be very, very light for a start. He suggested a five days test. Mr. Cobham stated that the inspector had visited his shed and found all in order, and had stated that everything was as good as it could be, yet he had been notified of low grading milk. Mr. Stopford stated that a shed might be in first-class order, but if cows came over swampy ground it helped to spoil the supply. He was going to support any system to improve the milk supply and hoped they would agree on something fairly unanimously. Mr. Woolnough stated that the manager had said that 75 per cent of the milk received was first-class, and that being so the great majority would be penalised under a prize system. He favoured a premium on first-grade milk. The chairman stated he favoured a premium so long as it was not too (Continued in Next Column)

big. The idea was to give the manager a first-class article so that a first-class cheese could be made for the Home market. Mr. Barford asked how long the testing would take daily. The chairman stated it would be too great a task to take samples daily. The manager had taken samples which stood up to the test for 10 hours, but ordinarily good milk should stand up for five hours. Mr. Wright asked if the articles of association allowed for differential payments ? The chairman replied that there was no legal standing unless suppliers agreed to the change. If the Dairy Division made it compulsory it would need an amendment to the Act. The vote would have to be unanimous. Mr. Barford suggested that the prizes might be increased to six. The chairman thought that instead of putting the names of those with poor milk up on the stage, that the manager speak to them. The resolution was altered to six prizes and in this form it was carried unanimously.