THE FARM INDUSTRY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 520, 29 May 1909, Page 8

THE FARM INDUSTRY.

THE CHEESE QUESTION. PROBPECTS FOR NEXT SEASON. DILEMMA OF THE DIRECTORS. The chceso question is still burning hotly in the minds of dairy farmers; and factory directors who are being pushed by suppliers to provide cheese plant, are wrestling witu one of the biggest responsibilities that havo over assailed them since dairy factories heRan. 'Responsible as they are for the financial safety of the concerns which thoy direct, they can hardly be expected to share the impetuosity of those who, aro only suppliers: The Dairy Union is one of tho concerns that aro being taxed on tho subject, and tho position of those responsible for, deciding the question is not enviable. When the suppliers to a certain creamery hold a meeting, and demand, a cheese plant, the courses open to'tho directors aro: —■ 1. Cede the demand, by spending, perhaps £2000/ on plant that may, or may not, remain profitablo long enough to pay its cost. ■■ ' , . 2. Cede the demand in return for legal guarantees from tho suppliers—a course which shifts the risk partly to the shoulders of the-farmers themselves. 3. Reject tho demand and thus drive the farmers to establish a rival factory of their own—rival in tho sense of absorbing the supplies of milk. What Dual Plants Would Mean. In the case of a business having such extensive interests as,the Dairy Union, with its twenty-threo receiving stations, thevastness of the question is evident. If the suppliers to each of the twenty-three creameries demanded cheese factories, the total cost involved might be > £46,000—that is, at £2000 per factory. It is, of course, unlikely that any demand so extensive will bo made on tho union directorate, but, in view of the demands already being made, tho calcuV lation, big as it is, has some meaning. The Dairy Union, with its popular "BlackSwan" brand of butter, has a prominent position in the Wellington and other markets, and this, of course, couM not he sacrificed. While those directors who are discouraging the movement are obviously studying the best nitercsts of the concern, it has to be admitted that suppliers havo an equal right' to advance thoir demands. It is a purely financial matter on each side. Chances of Good Cheeso Prices. There is a strong speculative element in the whole thing, for those authorities who have attempted to gauge the future limit thoir predictions of good cheese prices to one season only. Beyond that the future seems either to indicate a weakening of prices or to bo a closed'book altogether. Here is too opinion of one of the best informed men in Canada, given about the middle of )a6t momh, and addressed to a JSow Zealaader. •Ho says:—"Tho prospects aro that thero will bo a large increase in tho output of cheeso from Canada this year. Wo have had two very poor years for production, on account of the dry weather. These two years made it look as though thero was a big decline in the Canadian industry. There is no reason, to tako .that view _of the matter, however, and tho present spring shows more activity in the dairying lino than I havo noticed for many years. Good common cows aro selling at 50 to 60 dollars each. They came through tho winter in good condition, and if tho grass comes reasonably early, we shall ' have a large make of early cheeso. We hear a great deal about the competition from New Zealand, and it is beginning to havo some effect on the market.".. How Canada Affects tho Question. This authority does not lap much stress uponthe extreme scarcity of dairy cattlo WJlich the' two bad seasons produced. Other advicos recoived here from Canada, however, havo remarked particularly on this scarcity, so that'it would appear that, whilo there will

be an. increased output of Canadian o'neoso '■this y,eaiy.tho: number of cows in milk will have- to be greatly augmented before the output can overtake the volume produced three or ; four. years ago. One letter states that ordinary cows, have been ; selling at as high as 70' dollars each. This is equal to about' £14 ' 10s. each—a price at which it would pay oven New Zealanders to roar calves if tho Canadian market were.accessible.' ■;' A thing to bo always remembered is- the amount of latent resources which exist ia 'Canada in regard to milk beasts not hitherto contributing to the cheeso product, or duelpurpose heifers and old cows that would, in the face of an ordinary outlook, bo turned into beef. A certain number of these will no doubt bo retained in tho milking herds. ' Yet the view of authorities, backed up by 'the ruling prices, still, emphasises-the shortage. The_ nigh' prices which Canadian farmers arepaying for cows, however, indicate very significantly that thoy are making big efforts [to increase their output, and, with ordinary weather-conditions, one may reasonably expect a normal, or perhaps a slightly excessive, supply of choose from Canada very soon.

RESTRICTING THE BUTTER EXPORT

AN AUSTRALIAN PROPOSAL. WHAT'IT WOULD MEAN HERE.. Tho proposal of the Melbourne Trades Council looking to a federal export duty on wheat, meat, and butter, to provent exportation and consequent increased prices, has an interest for Hm Zealand. Australia has a considerable export trade in butter to South Africa; and an export duty of oven a penny per pound, at the present time, would almost certainly drive that trade to New Zealand Australian quotations to .Africa f.o.b. at Sydney are just now slightly above New Zealand ldea-j of values, and the effect of the suggested export duty would inevitably bo decided enough to transfer the orders. But this, of course, would immediately raise New Zealand prices, and the workers in Now Zealand would have to pay tho extra prices which their. Australian ■ brothers were attempting by tho duty to escape. It would appear, therefore, thai any attempt to keep down prices by means of export duties must cause unsteadiness in values,' «nd only result in shifting tho burden of paying from oho man's shoulders to another's. The workers in South Africa would , ultimately have to pay the Australian duty or buy, perhaps, Danish or Siberian butter, so'that their money would go .to foreigners, instead of being spent within the Empire. ; The proposal of the Australian workers also shows a;wantof appreciation of tho fact that Australian dairy farmers arc not in the busi.ness for the sake of tho local trade only. Australia produces 30,000, tons of butter per annum moro than is locally consumed, and, if tho outlet for this were closed by an export duty, it would entail tho closing of many of the dairy farms. Now Zealand produces over 15,000 tons of butter per annum over and above tho 7000 tons required locally. That being so, it is evident that two-thirds of the dairy farmers, of New Zealand would be thrown out of employment if it becamo the policy of tho country to prohibit exportation. l'o such an extreme extent, of course-, tho workers do not desiro to go. Previous suggestions in New Zealand havo been in tho direction of laws to prohibit exportation after a certain date, unless a fixed quantity of butter, reasonably sufficient for the local winter needSj is shown to remain available Such a policy, would add, as far as dairy factory directors, and merchants are concerned, om more to'tho already numerous puzzles which encumber tho commerce- in butter. The objections, however, to any restriction to free exportation,,of our-farm produce are so weighty that no dniry farmer is likoly to bo toopt awake at nights by a' fear of such a policy coming into existence

! • , : ' \ ' NATIONAL DAIRY SHOW. e NEXT MONTH'S BIG EVENT, i Tho National Dairy Show at Palmorston North ia to bo hold entirely undor cover. '• The Luilding3 i consist of six large halls, tho largest of which is 200 foot long by 60 feet wide. Total covered spaco runs into 40,000 square foot. Tho Juno show of this year 0 is' tho sixth successive fixture. It is .tho 1 dairymen's carnival of tho North Island, at

winch tho principal dairy associations foregather. Tho butter and cheeso prize money amounts to £172. Gold medal championship prizes for butter nnd cheese, and threo twenty-fivq guinea challeiigo cups aro in addition. Eighty-eight dairy factories are entered in these classes this year. Thirty-four firms exhibit dairy machinery, and a forty-horse-powcr engine- supplies tho power transmitted' to 200 feet of shafting. The- machinery is mostly in motion, and is the biggest moving display of its kind, in Australasia, and costs exhibitors several hundred pounds to run. Tho suaco occupies 8000 square feet. Other essential features aro tho horticultural and agricultural produce displays. Tho Department of Agriculture will occupy 3000 square feet of spaco. Hoyal Horticultural medals and a silver shield are awarded in apples, potatoes, vegetables and farm roots. Tho National Dairy Show was tho pioneer in school garden displays, and now shows tho finest displays in this lino in the Dominion. Altogether tho show has distributed £2800 in prize money, and the annual attendance in usually about 20,000 in the four days.

THE NEW FIELD FOR ROMNEYS

A SHIPMENT FOR ORECON. Tho Short Romneys and Perry Lincoln purchased through Mr. E. Short by Messrs. Kiddell and Sons, of Monmouth, Oregon, were shipped away at Wellington last evening aboard tho Moeraki. They were examined by numbers of those interested in Eheepbreeding, including Mr. David Evans,. lately shepherd to the Government, who wae identified with tho negotiations which led _to tbo purchase of the sheep. Tho examination was made before the sheep were put on board arid they were pronounced to be in excellent condition, and their prospect of surviving tho voyago as good as could bo possible with any sheep. Much caro has been exercised in their selection, tho vendors looking partly for their reward in the splendid advertisement which tho public exhibition of theso sheep at the big American shov:s will afford to New Zealand stud flocks. They aro to be exhibited immediately on arrival and news of their landing will be awaited with interest. The shipment comprised two .rams, six Itomney ewes, and five Komney ewe lambs. It is understood that this is the first shipment of Now Zealand sheep ever sent to America Messrs. Dalgoty and Co. were entrusted with the handling at Wellington and Sydney.

CANNED FRUIT.

Brisk business has been dono in New Zealand canned fruit this season. Mr. Jaquos, Government Canning Expert, told a Dominion representative that, in Auckland, nearly every packer has sold out, and all aro highly pleased with thoir operations. They could havo sold very much larger quantities if they had had them available, and all the firms proposo'to double or quadruple- their output nest season. •In reply to a question, tho canning expert did not predict a shortage in canned fruit, tho imported supplies filling tho extra needs, but the circumstances emphasised what ho had been saying for years past about the enormous scopo for expansion of fruit-preserving in New Zealand. "A new factory will," he said, "bo started in tho South Island next season, and as wo aro now on tho high road to producing fruits equal or superior to thoso of- California, we may reasonably expect local fruit to bo accepted in -preference to imported brands, especially as tho quantity locally preserved will, in a few years, I hope, eomo much nearer to filling all the, local requirements."

NORTH CANTERBURY FARMERS' UNION. PROVINCIAL CONFERENCE. [BI XKLEOttArit—rRESl USSOCUTION.I Christclmrcii, May; 28. Tho provincial conference of the; North Canterbury Farmers' Union adopted the following report of a committee to whom the matter liad been referred:—"That tho executive bo recommended to prdyido suitable enrolment books for secretaries "of"branches who may either themselves enrol or; where their own residoncee are not in^a.central and convenient situation, mako local arrangements to have such books open for the enrolment of unemployed labourers, and also of farmers requiring labourers." The executive was also recommended to favourably consider the opening of a central labour agency in tho city. It was decided to ask the Government to abolish the- mortgago t-as. : A motion to alter tho namo of tho union to the New Zealand Farmers' Guild, or New Zealand Settlers' Association was negatived. Mr. Richard Evans was elected president, Mr. 0. F. Clothier vice-president, and Messrs. David Jonea and Clothier delegates to the Dominion Conference. It was unanimously agreed: "That the conference endorse the. action of tho Prime Minister in making his offer of a Dreadnought to tho Mother Country, realising that selfhelp is tho first princrplo in promoting the safety for tho people, and the conference' consider it as cheap insuranco for the safe transit of tho products of the Dominion to tho markets of the world. ~ . , AN IMPERIAL TAX NOTION. REJECTED BY FARMERS. Auckland, May 23. At this afternoon's conference of the Farmers' "Onion delegates, a remit was brought forward from tho Ngaruawahia branch that an Imperial tax should bo levied upon unimproved lands for Imperial defence purposes. Mr. J. Flanagan said that it was a most extraordinary proposal that, for tho sako of defence, they must tax the land. He strongly opposed tho motion. • It was adverse to tho'principles of tho Farmers' Union. » Mr. Bennett said that farmers wore groaning under the weight of taxation already. Was the back-block settler the only person interested in defence? Captain Coldeck said that, while the towns were liable to destruction in time of war, they had to remember that tho farmer was interested in having Dreadnoughts built to protect the sea highways. Mr. Thompson was surprised at such a resolution coming before tho Fanners' Union Conference. It would be unfair to place all the' responsibility on tho land. Mr. G. J. Parland contended that tho farmers. should only pay their share. The motion wa9 an "undigested tiling," and the vapourings of an untrained mina." . The motion was lost. , SHOW DATES. Juno 1 to 4.—Duncdin Winter Show. Juno 15 to 17.—Invercargill \Vintor Show. Juno 22 to 25.—National Dairy Show (Palmerston North). July 6 to 10.—Waikato Winter Show (Hamilton). . FARMERS' UNION CONFERENCE DATES. Farmers' Union Conferences will be held this year as follow: End of May.—Canterbury Provincial Conferonce. Otago.—Not yot notified. End of July.—Dominion Conference, at Wellington. A biennial conferonco of agricultural societies will bo held in Wellington this year, probably at tho end of Juno.