PAYING FOR CREAM.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 201, 5 June 1914, Page 4

PAYING FOR CREAM.

What Should The Basis Be

Quality or Quantity ?

About 60 dairy factory delegates from tha North Auckland districts met in Auckland on Monday, under the chairmanship of Mr Arthur Morton, of the National Dairy Association. Ihe discussions which ensued will be cf interest to dairymen in this district. Mr Baesett, Northern Wairoa, explained that ihe meeting had bem arranged by factories in the North of Auckland because they were chiefly concerned with home separation. It was essential to ser.d out only the beßt butter in order to copa witn the keen competition prevailing on the Home market. He BUggest.d that the factories should enter into an agreement to take cream on a basis of paymeDt fcr purity and butter-fat contents. (Applause).

Mr Harris, Orura-Fairburn, said that bis was one or the few factories which had adopted a system of cream gradi g. and he declared, unhes.titingly, that it was a distinct success. Ibey had deducted a half-penny per pound on second grade cteam, and that had produced a marvellous effect on the general quality. Mr Sterling, Kaipara, expressed tbe opinion that aa they could nut effectively test cream for adulteration at the factories because of the prevalence of alkalis, whatever system of cream grading was adopted the senses of taste and smell should be the principal mediums for testing. (Applause). Mr W. M. Singleton, of the Dairy Division of the Agricultural Department, said that while officers of the Department believed in the cooperative system, they felt that puity and cleanliness would be encouraged by the placing ot a premium on the industry and care of the dairyrmn. Such a system had been adopted in Taranaki seven years ago, and it had been an unqualified success. A similar agreement between the factories of the North would be encouraged by the officers of the Department. (Applause). Mr Ward, Hokianga, said that to his mirid it was desirable to give their dairymen a certain amount of instruction before deducting payment on stcond-grade cream. Mr Eggerton, Hikurangi, said that the onus must rest mainly on the factoiy managers. (Hear, hear). He advocated the appointment of officials to visit the dairies and give instruction in the use of separators.

Mr H. J. Nixon, Bay of Islands, moved: "That it is in the best interests of dairying that tbe northern factories adopt a system of crenm and milk grading, with payment according to purity of butterfat contents." Mr Dugmore, Hokianga, seconded. Mr J. McLeod, Kaipara, thought something should be done to prevent suppliers changing their factories half-way through tbe season.

Mi Scobie, Whangarei, said that the main difficulty would be in grading the cream which could only be d.livered two or three times a week, because of the long- distances which it had to cover. He thought that the Government should be approached with a view to securing the services of their officials to visit the factories and fix the standards.

Mr Valentine, Departmental representative in the north of Auckland, said that it was not possible at present to secure daily delivery of cream, and therefore they should apply themselves to improving conditions as they found them. Daily delivery would not do away with the necessity of grading cream. (Hear, hear). Ninety-nine defects in cream were, he declared, the result of dirt. (Hear, hear). Let them see to the utensils of their suppliers and co-operate to prevent

deterioration in quality. His ex-fi-cici.ee of ti.e factory iranrgers of the nu:ta was that tlu-y vurj quite capable of lisirg to the o.va i"r, and 112 Leliii.id that a grading Bjstem wcull te-ult iu ihe dirty on?s being brought into line. Applause). The resolution wes carried unanimously, one vote being allowed to ea:h North Auckland factory represented.

Mr Edwin Hardi:g, Northern Wairoa, moved: "That ihe delegates undertake to endeavour to secure a binding contract betneen the companics in the North of Auckland to give effect to ths foregoing resolution, and to loyally abstain frcm receiving milk or cream fiom suppliers dissatisfied with the grading of tha company which they have begun to supply during any given season, the agreement to take eirect throughout thi enauing seasrn, and that a committee of live be appointed to draft an agreement for submission to the varicus companies."

Mr Ward, seconded, and on his sugg-stijn the following addition was made to the resolution: "Also that factories undertake to refuse any supplies f.om a dairyman until his liab.lities to a r.eighouring company be liquidated."

Mr McLecd, Kaipara, moved as an smendment: "l'hat this meeting proceeds to form a North Auckland Dairy Association to deal with the matter."

Mr Hays, Whangaroa, seconded

Some of the delegates raised the pcint as to whether the propiietary companies would work in with the co-operative companies in this connection. By way of reply it was mentioned that at ths New Zealand conference in Palmerston North the proprietary concerns were just as anxiuus as the other companiesjtocooperate in the direction indicated.

Mr Van Veen, representing a proprietary company dealing in cream, assured the delegates that there was no necessity to look upon any proprietary concern as aii enemy to co-operation. They could do no more with bad cream than the co-operative factoiies, and if they wanted to out th3ir own throat* it could not be done more effectively than by inviting the "rejects'' to become their suppliers. .Laughter and applause).

The amendment whs lost on the voices.

The resolution was carried and a committee appointed to draft an agreement. This was done and was submitted to the conference before its close. It provided for a system of purchasing cteam and milk on grading based upon richness of butter-fat cor.tents and quality. A further provision was that cream or milk below the standard of 35 per cent, should be paid for at the rate of id per pound less than the rates paid for standard supplies. Mr A. Scobie. Whangarei, introduced the question of advertising New Zealand butter and cheese. He suggested that the companies should make a levy on themselves of, say, 3d per bo*, and raise a fund of £20,000 or £30,000 fcr a vigorous advertising compaign in England. The speaker remarked that Danish butter had been advertised so effectively that English consumers had come to believe that it was the only first-class butter. Mr Wesley Spragg, who spoke by invitation, expressed the opinion that New Zealand producers should first corsider the improvement of quality, which would be the very best form of advertising. Next, they should devise some eti'ective method of disposing of the butt?r in Englard, end make it worth the whila of the commission men to advertise tbe New Zealand article (Applause. Mr John Tate, Whangaroa, remarked that Danish producers had an advantage in being able to supply the English market all the year round. He thought that with closer settlement New Zealand would soon be able to do likewise. Mr Scobie moved: "Ihat.it be a recommendation to the National Conference at Palmerston North that a levy of 3d per bux of butter and :!d per crate of cheese be made for the purpose of advertising in the United Kingdom." Mr Ward, Hokianga, seconded. ! a In replying to an inquiry, the chairman said that on the basis of jthe 1912 report figures the proposed levy would produce a total of £9452 in the case of butter, and £5382 with respecf of cheese.

The resolution was thrown out on the voices. Mr Harris, Oruru-Fairburn, moved a recommendation to the Dominion Conference: "Thai better facilities be pruvided tor the marketing of New Zealand produce in agreement with the resolutions carried at the Hawera Conference." The resolution was secoi I '' mi. carried unanimously <:.<, f cussion. The chnini,. r. • ovtJ ; " I h.-. • : ::e free-iv: ■ nij.. .■ I o writ to tha' it- :'">-* t f I ii.'.! . vcr .ull Ihr li.li tt aO*.'- i'd the resolution, |i h >;i.- ariied uraniraously. JL'n a.e motion of Mr Scobie, it Is resolved to appoint a committee wait upon the Auckland Harbour >ard with a request that butter lich paid inward wharfage on rival from the North and East ast should be subject to a rebate ion re-shipped afterwards.

II he conference resolved, at the stance of Mr Fisher, Tologa Bay, recommend the Government to nd a grader periodically to Gisrne for the testing of butter prior consignment to Auckland.