The Dairy Act.

The Revising Committee's remarks on the questions coming before the Conference with regard to dairying were as follow:—"The great success which has attended the export of butter from Victoria, largely owing to the provision of refrigerating cars, cool storage and the general supervision of grading and branding, as carefully carried out there, is sufficient to show the necessity of adopting similar methods here, if New Zealand is to take the place her natural advantages entitle her to as a producer of dairy produce."

Mr Henry Reynolds moved, "That steps be taken by this Conference to agree upon the best method for the exportation of butter with the view to assist the Government in the amendments now being made in the Dairy Industry Act."

The motion was seconded by Mr Overton.

Mr H. Reynolds then read a paper on "New Zealand Dairying."

Mr Reynolds' motion was agreed to.

The Conference at 1 p.m. adjourned for lunch at Bellamy's and resumed at 2 p.m.

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Mr J. G. Wilson, M.H.R., asked Mr Reynolds if the Conference was to understand that he had suggested in his paper that a grader should be appointed here and another at Home?

Mr Reynolds replied that the butter should be graded here. Many people, he went on to explain, imagined that it spoiled butter to freeze it, but this was a mistake. Since they bad been sending Home frozen butter they had not lost a pound, which was not the case when sending it in a cool chamber. He saw a great deal of New Zealand butter at the London Docks last year, and it was only fit for pastry. It was stuff such as this that destroyed the reputation of New Zealand butter.

Mr J. G. Wilson suggested that if a grader were appointed, yet, if after his examination the butter was left in the Harbour Board sheds, it could not arrive in the Home market in a good condition.

Mr Reynolds replied that there was a great deal of damage done to butter by the treatment it received at the wharves, and this was one of the reasons why it was of a fishy nature when it arrived in London.

Mr G. May said that damage was done to the butter in its transit in the small coastal steamers. He thought these vessels should have some provision made for taking it to the central ports.

Mr F. Bradey considered they should commence at the beginning, and have a thorough inspection of the cows and the stockyards.

Mr Overton asked Mr Reynolds if he could tell the Conference why Victorian butter realised better prices than New Zealand?

Mr Reynolds replied that it was in a great measure owing to the fact that their cows were fed largely on native pastures, and that the Government regulations made it compulsory that the milk should pass through a cooler immediately after coming from the cow. Mr Reynolds went on to say that some of the Victorian butter was equal to the Danish, and better than the New Zealand. The whole secret of good butter was that the cream should be kept below 60 degrees. If this were not done, it would be impossible for the butter to arrive in good condition in England. The Victorians have paid great attention to the temperature maintained on the voyage.

Mr W. C. Buchanan, M.H.R., said it was contended that the New Zealand climate was too good to make butter, as the people depended too much on it.

Mr Grigg moved, "That a committee of this Conference be appointed to consider the question of the preparation of dairy produce for export, with a view to obtain the assistance of the Government by way of amending the Dairy Industries Act, the Committee to consist of Messrs W. Henderson, Pattullo, Barnett, Allen, Buchanan, H. and R. Reynolds, May, H. Overton, J. D. Ritchie, and the mover."

The resolution was seconded by Mr Buchanan. M.H.R., who suggested that the words "with power to add to their number, and to report to the Conference as soon as possible," be added.

Mr Wilson, M.H.R., referred to the good that was effected by peripatetic dairies.

Mr Grigg intimated that the Committee would made their enquiries as wide as possible.

Mr C. Pharazyn thought they were inclined to depend too much on the Government for everything.

Mr Reynolds considered that the Government could do many things which it would not be possible for private individuals to do.

The motion as amended was then put to the meeting, and carried on the voices.