FROM LABORATORY TO DAIRY FARM

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 32, 30 April 1927, Page 10

FROM LABORATORY TO DAIRY FARM

COMMITTEE DIRECTS CO-ORDINATION OF RESEARCH WORK (From Our Resident Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Friday. How science will further add to the productiveness of New Zealand’s dairying industry is outlined in the report of the plan prepared for the coordination of the existing agencies for dairying research in New Zealand, as agreed to by Tuesday’s conference of interested parties, issued by the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. O. J. Hawken, to-day. Those present at the conference were:—Mr. Hawken and Messrs W. Grounds, Winks and Forsyth, representing the Dairy Produce Board; Dr. C. J. Reakes, representing the Department of Agriculture; the Hon. G. Fowlds and Mr. A. Morton, representing the Agricultural College Council; Mr. G. Shirtcliffe and Mr. Quentin Donald, representing the Research Council; Dr. E. Marsden, Professor W. Riddett and Mr. T. C. Brash. The Prime Minister was present during part of the proceedings.

It was decided that dairy research, apart from day to day routine tests required by the Agricultural Department and trade laboratories, will be carried out under the direction of the management committee along the lines indicated in circulars issued by the Research Council. The dairy research laboratories, apart from the Agricultural Department’s routine laboratories, are to be carried on under the direction of a committee composed of members of the Dairy Produce Board, Department of Agriculture, Agricultural College Council, and the Research Council. The committee will have powers of management. RESEARCH STAFF

The Management Committee when set up will be given instructions to consider the detailed arrangements necessary for the conduct of research along the lines indicated as follows: (1) The research laboratories to be erected as part of the college laboratories, the Agricultural Department’s laboratory to be contiguous to the research. (2) The staff of the research laboratories to be appointed by the Research Council on the recommendations of the management committee and approved by the Agricultural College Council. (3) Local office and separate research accounts to be kept. (4) The dairy factory to be controlled by the Agricultural College, but the research officers and officers of the Agricultural Department to have the right of access for experimentation under such conditions as meet with the approval of the Agricultural College Council. (5) The research committee might well provide for such special research apparatus as may be required in the factory and make contribution toward the cost of a specialist factory staff. (6) The Dairy Produce Board to contribute one-halt of the total funds required for dairy research work. DAIRY BOARD'S SUBSIDY

At the Dairy Board meeting this week authority was given for the meeting of expenditure on a £1 for £1 basis up to £3,000, for the year ending July, 1928. It is further provided that the research staff may be used for teaching or lectures by arrangement with and approval of the management committee. Feeding and management of the herd and milking sheds, factory and equipment, is to be controlled by the College Council, but the research staff and the Agricultural Department’s officers may be given facilities for experimentation under the direction of the professor of dairying. The Re-

search Council or its management committee will arrange for adequate cooperation with district laboratories to advise as to subsidy, if any, to be paid to such laboratories, such subsidies to be paid from the funds available for dairy research. The director of the research laboratories, the chief bacteriologist and the chemist, are to be appointed forthwith, and pending the erection of the necessary buildings are to work at Hawera or at such other institution as the management committee may arrange. It was suggested that the committee of management consist of three nominees each of the Dairy Produce Board and Research Council and two nominees each from the Agricultural Department and Agricultural College Council.