THE DAIRY INDUSTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 November 1921, Page 8

THE DAIRY INDUSTRY.

CONFERENCE OF FACTORY MANAGERS. GRADING OF PRODUCE. Members of the Taranaki Dairy Factory Managers’ Association met at the producers’ stores at Moturoa yesterday for the purpose of holding a grading conference. There was an attendance of about thirty. Members were welcomed by the chief grader (Mr. C. C. Robertson), who said that conferences of the kind were no doubt beneficial, and he thought the more managers who could come in to the grading centre the better it would be. Sometimes it was thought that the graders were somewhat drastic in alloting points for certain outputs, but after a conference it would be seen that this was not so. A matter whieh > he desired to bring before managers was the age at which cheese should be sent into the stores. The general rule was that ■ chefese should be at least fourteen days on ; the shelves before being sent in, but he thought in some cases this was misunderstood, and the time was counted from the date of manufacture. No cheese, however, should be received at the stores under l 16 days old if the rule was carried out j rightly, and if necessary the article should I be left longer on the shelves. Mr. A. F. Neilson (secretary) replied on j behalf of the association. Points about the grading of cheese and butter were then discussed, Mr. Robertson | being accompanied by Messrs. F. Thomson ! (assistant grader) and N. Fulton (dairy instructor), and samples taken from the various consignments received at the stores were used for the purposes of practical demonstration. Luncheon was partaken of at the Breakwater Hotel, and afterwards a short toast list was honored, commencing with the loyal toast. In proposing the toast “The Dairy Division”, Mr. Neilson welcomed the members of the division, and remarked that the members of the association had enjoyed an instructive visit to the Stores. The conference was valuable in” providing a basis for an interchange of ideas, and he hoped they would have more. Mr. Robertson replied to the toast, and said he hoped to see members of the association present at many more conferences. In going into figures recently he had found that for the three months September to November 23 the output showed an increase of 1,000,0001bs of butterfat compared with the previous year. No doubt some members of the division were entitled to credit for this result. “The Taranaki Producers’ Company” was proposed by Mr. T. Robinson, who referred to the appreciation felt by members at the courtesy received during their visits to Moturoa. AJr. D. K. Morrison suitably responded. During the afternoon a grading competition was held, and resulted as follows: Cheese. —T. H. Robinson (Mangorei) 1, H. McAUum (Tariki) 2, D. Souness (Kaponga)* 3. Butter (creamery) .—W. M. Ross (Inglewood DI, J. Lynch (Tariki) 2, S. Carter (Kaimata) 3. Butter (whey).—S. Carter 1, T. H. Robinson 2, J. Garner (Tikorangi) 3.