NATIONAL DAIRY ASSOCIATION

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 19 June 1907, Page 2

NATIONAL DAIRY ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL MEETING. ) By Telegraph.—From our special Reporter. Palmerston North, June 18. The thirteenth annual meeting of the NV.iunal Dairy Association of New Zciilurd opened this morning, Mr. W. J. Foreman (of Tikorangi), precident oecupit.l the chair. Delegates were present fn.ni (lie following co-operative companies :• —Awatuna, Belvedre, Cardiff. D.-.clicid, Ullhani, l-Vatherston, 01™ Ovuia, liolden Buy, Xakaraniea, Kaupokonui, Kaponga, Lowgartli, Mangatoki, 11 .ngorci, Mastcrlon, Maurieeville, Mldliir.it. Mo a Farmers' Union, Maketawa, N;.;aire, Normanby, Norsewood, North Taranald, N.Z. Fanners Dairy Virion, Oinata, Otaki-Manakau, Oaknra, Parkvale, Rangilikei, Kaugiwahk-liunliiiio. liiverdale, Rongotea, Stratford, Taratalu. Tikorangi, Warea, Whcnuakui;a, Hal lance, Uawera, Hillsborough, Levin, Mere Mere, Puniwhakau, and Tararua. The Defiance and Okarawa Proprietary factories were also represented, while three exporting firms, Messrs. E. Clrilliths and Co., New Plymouth; Pearson and Rutter, Ltd., Wellington; and Oetzes and flerifher, of Wellington, also had delegates present. THE PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS.

In moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet, Mr. Foreman congratulated the members on the profitable season experienced. Our produce was still maintaining its high standard, and it was clear that the quality was improving year by year. The past season's exports were better than ever before, and results generally were very gratifying. He had little hesitation in asserting that New Zealand was now making one of the. best butters in the world, and if we could place it on the Home market somewhat quicker we would not take second place even to Denmark. But, on the other hand, the industry had not shown the expansion predicted some time hack, this being probably due to tiia high price obtaining for mutton and wool. However, the aggregate exports had viscfi to a. very considerable extent, lie did not approve of the present practice ot storing such large quantities of butter during the while;', owing to its I m vita!, ic '.nl effect on the . aputalioi l 'n V "ur V hipi-aci'l". Tin. Matter o f

.'Vrjji.it ."'3 in ipon, i * -v ••»'• '.j Uu I'ooeiit v.v! ..:ju j '■j uii'- 3s fd for ■■'A .iO': nj\' : ber/'ieial 'n its cf--h "lie. CO.lS'd MilS lr-.1l 0001 l too io.\. . i.. ' i.'- iioaed tlui- now + hc prices r l( h'l n-.Px'utl o,ic\ to th-i old uguves. j''u j.n .nees c\ viie ••issomiiou showed I lie.* Wtu- ,(U!>i about holding their own. A matter of importance to the proilueer hera was the English Butter Bill, to prevent the manufacture of "faked butter.' 1 hoped t.o nee a measure inf.roucul to stop J ;he preparation of Bluff lib: margarine,'but he did not think English people would put up with anything to interfere with the manufacture of what appeared to he a perfectly wholesome article. After alluding to the recent statements of the Minister of Agriculture in reference to the almost

immediate establishment of an Experimental station, he referred to the de-

wand of dairy factory employees, lie feared that, the result would be that farmers would withdraw their support from the present factory system, which, lie reminded the meeting, had had much to do with building up the reputation of our produce. The motion was seconded'by Sir Adlam.

Several delegates referred to the mutter of freights as one of the most .important that could be dealt will), comparisons being drawn between the respective charges made for meat and dairy produce. The chairman detailed the steps taken by the association in the matter, and said he did not see that much reduction could be expected before the expiration ol' the present agreement.

Some considerable attention was devoted to the recent Supreme Court judgment bearing on the powers of co-opera-tive companies. Jn reply to a question, the chairman gave his opinion that its effect was that such a company could not legally deal with non-members unless it lirst altered its Memorandum of Association to prevent this being done. The matter was gone into at some length, but the effect of the discussion was far from clear.

The report and balance sheet were finally adopted.

DIRECTORS RE-ELECTED. Before the election of directors took (dace, it was decided to vote the members or the directorate the usual sum in recognition of their past year's services— £2l) to the chairman and .DlO each to the others. .Messrs. J. \Y. Foreman, T. L. -Toll, and A. Morton, the retiring directors, were re-elected unopposed. ANOTHER EXPERT ASKED FOR. Mr. Morton moved—"That the Dairy Association and representatives of the dairy industry strongly urge on the Government the advisability of appointing a dairy expert, whose duty ii would be to examine New Zealand dairy produce at .Home, and act under instructions 01 the New Zealand Commissioner. He said that by the combination of :>() lactones Mr. Mackay has been appointed. but thev wanted to go further. Mr. Caddie said the time had arrived when they should have a practical man at Home fo report on the condition of dairy produce on arrival there, and he had made recommendations to that effect t(. the Department. Jn some ease> agents did not report on inferior quality of butter on arrival for fear of injuring their trade, and sometimes his DepartmsM had passed on complaints to comnan.'js - .10 oJienvise would not have

Mr, .ViddH'U-u saiu. it was true that who called attention to inferior quality sonieliMcs iost iheir agency. Tin. motion was carried. LABOR REGULATIONS.

The chairman said it was intended to obtain an interview with the Minister for Lands in regard to the enforcement of labor regulations in butter factories. After some discussion, which indicated ihat the regulations referred to were not clearly understood, the subject was withdrawn from discussion.

INSPECTION OF MILK. Mr Gridiths proposed—That this Conterenco support the Government in the matter oi tlieir proposed inspection in connection with the supply of milk to factories and creameries/' The motion, lie said, was the result of the delibera'ien of a committee set up to consider the question of a better aud cleaner milk supply. Mr. IJarkness. seconding, said it was intended by such an appointment to assist the lai.'mers to improve their yards. Several speakers objected to the proposed tax of a penny per head of eattle, one who milked by machiuey declaring he would be penalised for the carelessness of others.

Mr. Nicholson said IHc Government could undertake the duty where duiry factories could not. It was necessary to see to the lieiilth and conditions of cows as well us yards. JIV Percy said the experience of his company was that inspection was necessary. Mr Clifton. Government Inspector, said the idea was to inaugurate a system of supervision and assistance rather than inspection. Such a system to operate in regard to the sale of milk for human consumption. There would lie registration of milk suppliers, with a nominal charge of, say. 2s lid up to ten cows and ."is over that. It was proposed to establish testing stations under the charge of Mr f'uddie and a supervisor. These stations would he empowered to make tests of milk- to enable dairymen to know tie milk-giving qualities of their cows. At present a large proportion of pigs reared in dairy districts were infected with tuberculosis, and such a system would assist materially to eliminate the disease.

Mr. liiddell, a dairyman with large experience, said the appointment of such inspectors would be the best step ever taken for the dairy industry. The motion was adopted.

Tt was decided to hold a meeting during the evening to discuss the'union i movement amongst the factory operatives, the meeting not being open to the Press.