DAIRY FACTORIES CONFERENCE.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 307, 13 October 1888, Page 5

DAIRY FACTORIES CONFERENCE.

Thk annual conference of delegates from bbc Southland dairy factories was held in the office of the seciei-aiy, Mr .). L. M D maid, on Friday afternoon, the follow - ing {iontlouicn being piesent : — Messis Foi\syth (Wyndham), in tho chair. Gohl (WoodLinds), M 'Donald (Fairfax), Way to (Otama Bridge), Play fair (Aparima), Rout and Sn\elby (lto&lyn Hush). The Societal y lepoited that he had mtciviewed Captain Todd, of 'tho Colonial Union Shipping Co. . on the subject oi freights, and that gentleman had proinUed to make tcpicsontations to tho he id oihec in London. In connect ; om with the railway rates on cheese, the S eietnry announced that Mi Cowan, M.H. tL , had e.\pie«.>ed the opinion to him that theie was a, good prospect ot I the wishes of fcho conference being complied v with. It was decided that an exhibition of factory made cheese should be hold some i time this season, the prizes to be a gold medal, a silver medal, and a certificate of merit ; the unanimous opinion being that the annual Sou hland Agricultural Show was held at a time unsuitable for the exhibition of first-class factory cheese. On the suggestion ol Mr Wayte.'it was agreed that such arrangements should bo made as would pie\ent the exhibition of speciallymade chee-e, so that the exhibits would be fair samples of the ordinary make of each factory competing. A conversational discussion on the best quality and sizes of cheese for export next took place, general approval being expressed of the large sizes (601b) and of light colour. Several gentlemen related experience of their companies, which tended to show that fV- lighter the colour the 1 uglier the price leaded in the London maiket. The question of how be9t to dispose of the cheese in Britain was also talked over, the Chairman stating that his company had found it an ad\ antage to limit the size of tho lots sold, instructing their agent that in each lot there must not be more than a specified quantity. Mr M'Donald. said the companies might consider the advisableness of combining to appoiut a travelling aetnb to sell the cheese in the various centres in Britain instead of placing it all on the London market as at present. Views were exchanged on the subject, bub no action taken. The next matter considered was the kind of boxes most suitable for packing cheese, and it was eventually decided to invite tenders from sawmillers for timber for boxes for the Southland factories, specifications to be prepared by the secretary. Several minor matters having been dis-cus-ed conversationally, The Chairman moved — " That tenders be invited from the New Zealand, Shaw, Savill, and Albion, Colonial Union, Peninsular and Oriental, and Orient Shipping Companies for the conveyance of next year's output of cheese and butter from the colony to London, the cheese to be kept in wcll-\entilated apartments at a temperature not exceeding 80 deg., and the estimated shipments being as follows : — Wyndham, 150 tons and a quantity of butter'; Edendale, 200 tons ; Gore, 60 tons ; Mataura, SO tons ; Woodlands, 60 tons ; Saxelby's factory, 40 toii3 ; Otama creek, 40 tons ; Waimatuku, 30 tons, . Aparima, 30 tons ; Fairfax, 25 tons ; Waianiwa,4o tons ;— total, 755 tons." The motion was seconded by Mr Playfair, and cairied unanimously. On the motion of Mr M'Donald, it was resolved to petition the Government to make it a condition of the mail contract that the direct steamers should carry dairy produce at reasonable rates, such rates to be fopecitied in the petition The chairman, the secretary, and Mr Rout wete appointed a sub-committee to prepare the annual report of the conference, and the meeting closed. — Soxdliland Times. The following annual leport was reacT-.— The coniorcneo riming the past year lui3 held six mee'inirs. >>•. Inch weie lairiy attended. The obti'ot"* oi .. >c conference are to promote the dairying interests oi the factories in this disincl. and to collect ai.d disseminate knowledge in (pacer-, rek'tintr theieto. Thcsuojocts winch hau> i rrticulaily engaged :he nUcn ion ot the i conference were :— Tne reduction oi the rail w a}' rateh on cheese Irom lactorits to port of shipment, lor exportation, the icduc ion ot freight rateaby steameis, to Lon. on \uc .literal ion o£ the system of making pa> irei£»hts in the co'ony ; the quaht\ and <n/cs of cheeses mo^t suitiiblo lor th<> Knjrl"-h market, and the best mode oi f 1 bpo s al. 'tie question ot reduction of railv,uv iat"s was urged upon Sir Harry Atk.n'-on cm the occasion ot his \ isit to Tnvcrcargiil and by letter since. The Southland members weie written to. a-,kingtlum to .support the application of the ocmioroiicc v.nh which request they courteously complied. As yet, norep'yhasbecn leccived lroni the Government, but hopes aie entertained that it wil< encourage this important indiistij uy < akmg a reduction. Parliament nasseri a measure last session to protect and encourage the manutactuie of articles whuh agriculturists absolutely require; hen c the justicu ot the 'equestniade but the conteienee for encouragement. The soil and eh ate of this parr ot the colony are naturally adapted for clairj ing, and all that is requncd m. to be able to place om- butter and cheese on a good payable inaikct. TheconJorence has bte>i continuously .iressirrc tlie agents of the direct steamers to reduce tl.eir rates for cheese, and has succetded in getting a small concession of the rates m the cool fhamber. The conference is of opinion that the mode of eai Tying cheese in the cool chamber is not the best Cheese bhould i>ot be kept in too low a temperature, nor allowed to ex eed7CMeg. Fair, at any one point. An avcraire temperature of 60de°during transit,. indwell ventilated, would be -he boot tor ripening the cheese, and would keeD down the lungus (mould). The quantity of cold air required to accomplish this would not be great, and as a rule would be only required gom through the tropics Comparing the rates at which Iro/en meat is carried, on which the S £ ip i§ nes a guarantee, the rates for cheese should not exceed one halfpenny per pound Kepresentations have been :nan to the Government approving of subsidising the direct steamers to carry mails, but that it be made a syne qua non that cheese be carried in the cool chamber at a rate not exceeding 4d per lb, and butter 3d per lb, and a petitioifis being nrepared urging this # upon the Government. The conference is strongly of opinion that unless rates of transit from the lactones to Lonaon are reduced the making and exportation of cheese and batter to the English markets will languish, if not oollapse altogether. Ihis would be a tremendous loss to the community, besides which it would be a national calamity. Large sums of money have been invested in putting up dairy factories, providing plant etc. and the purchase of dairy stock, most of which would be an absolute loss to RhmS.Tthi"^ invos L Gd capital therein, should the industry break down. The conSfSPiift 1 ,??!^ 6 to c nec . eBBi ty of a better mode" TT,-K?£ t H? ir 1 ? rodi i cc in the Home markets! Hitherto a haphazard system has been puraued by each factory consigning through agents and the results, as a rule, not beln soßatS' factory as they ought to be. The problem then is how is this to be remedied? Various torkS taanshavff been made, and the question has oi gaged the serious attention ofthe conference The conference would point out that tSeoiuSS )t experts in the London market is that uur jheese is not mild enough. The sizes most approved in London by the trade are between 601b md 701b. Attention snould be paid to have cheese boxes much cleaner and neater than those heretofore ased. In order to obttin freights to London at lower rates, the conference is mvi ing offers for the carriage of 750 tons of cheese by steamer to London, to be carried in specially ventilated compartments ; temperature to be kept under BOdeg Fahr. When offers are received each factory will be invited to consider them. It has been thought advantageous to call tenders for timber (white pine) in sizes for cheese boxes. These tenders will be submitted to each factory for their acceptance. The cost of transit of our own produce is one of the most important questions in connection. with, the deYelQPment of

this industry, and it is quito evident that it will not flourish at the present rates. Choese Ironi taetorieslo London, including froights and al) charges, has been coslitif? l?d perlb. Taking the avoraso pnco obtained m London at 51s 4d par owr (s£d per lb), thia leaves only 3Jd por lb at the factories. iho oonf eronco, in conclusion, desires to im press upon o eh factory company, nnd those iutprcstorl in dairying, tho dilHcultica with which tho industry has to contend, and the AToat nocoQ^ihr there ia lov united action in orrlcr to onanro auccoisg. ICnch corapnny has a con>*uon intorost, and what will betioflt otic v, ill honolLL tho wholo. and tho commixnity fonovally. Jamks Fossyth, Chairman. <t>