MINISTER AND FARMERS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 15, 12 July 1911, Page 7

MINISTER AND FARMERS.

THOSE DAIRY REGULATIONS. j The question of the much-discussed 1 dairy regulations was brought up at the! banquet, tendered to his Excellency the I Governor ait Hawera in connection with J the Dominion Dairy Show.

The Mayor, Mr. E. Barton, in proposing the health of the Minister of Agriculture and the Ministry, referred to the fact 'that the dairy regulations had changed the political aspect of Taranaki at the last election. He said that Mr. Mackenzie had always taken up high ground ill his treatment of the Department, lifting it above the polities of the day and taking a wide, view of all that had to be done in connection with that important department of State. The Minister, in replying, said it was pleasing to hear the expressions of good wishes regarding the health of the Ministry. He humorously alluded to the fact that statements had been made that, they were suffering from some dire diseases, such as "Tammanyoides" and "complications of the chest." With regard to the Mayor's observations with respect to the dairy regulations having changed tne political current of Taranaki, Mr. Mackenzie said that these regulations were suggestions chiefly emanating from those engaged in the dairy industry . They were promoted to secure cleanliness and consequently quality in our output—the very tiling the necessity of which his Excellency the Governor had that night been emphasising. Would it be believed that these now notorious regulations, which had been responsible for so much chance of members at the last elections, were as a matter of fact entirely non-existing in law and never had had in that respect any existence in fact or practice? They had been submitted to the Agricultural Committee of Parliament for investigation and report. The committee amend* ed them and made a report to Parliament, bnt up to the present moment that report has never been adopted by Parliament or by anyone, He had been J told in Stratford in connection with the pasteurisation of skim milk and whey that if the Government insisted upon this being done they would get into the same difficulty at the forthcoming election as they suffered at the previous one from the suggested dairy regulations. His Excellency had that evening expressed the hope that co-operative bacon factories would be started in Taranaki; but of what value would such factories be unless the swine herds of the country were brought, by the agency of pasteurisation. into a state of perfect health. He had great difficulties in connection with this important question, but he stated firmly that so' much of the future, of this Dominion's welfare was dependent on the high quality of our produce that he intended to pursue, on reasonable lines, the steps necessary to that end. He thanked the farmers for their kindly co-operation in connection with pasteurisation. He hoped'to render it beyond the power of any supplier by his carelessness to destroy the whole output of a factory. In conclusion, he: added that in those districts where the farmers had been worked up to the strongest 1 antagonism against the regulations they j were now asking for additional officers of the Dairy Division to be located in their midst to carry on the good work of improving the output. The member for Patea, when proposing the toast of "The Agricultural arid Pastoral Industries," also made reference to the dairy regulations. He stated that the regulations had been in force and that inspectors had been appointed under them and paid for four months. Mr. Mackenzie, speaking subsequently, corrected the statement of the member for Patea, pointing out that it was ini; possible in law to appoint any inspectors j to any position under non-existing regulations, and therefore not one in-1 spector was appointed or paid under th'e ( much-discussed dairy regulations. I