THE.FARM INDUSTRY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 529, 9 June 1909, Page 10

THE.FARM INDUSTRY.

NATIONAL DAIRY ASSOCIATION,

ANNUAL REPORT. Tho. annual report of the. National Dairy Association of the North Island. is issued. It states as follows:—''Tho increasing business done throughout tho year is oridenced by' the fact that the turnover amounted to £125,000 10s.; this sum is .exclusive of advances made on dairy produce, and tho profit and loss account shows a credit balance £6931 4s. ,4d.,.a net profit,of £426 14s. lOd. The membership roll now stands at 109, tho same number .as last year. During tho period now under roview, lour co-opera-tive factories, two pwprietaxy factories, and one exporter have beoome members of tho association- Two co-operative factories • have retired in consequence of amalgamation with other firms, also four proprietary factories and one,dairy farmer. : "Tho first shipment of new season's butter was forwarded per a.s. Mamari from Wellington on September 10, 1908, arriving in London on October- 21, and consisted of 961 boxes. The s.s. Rimutaka, which left Wellington on January 14, 1909, was', the largest shipment for the season, consisting of 52,075 boxes. Tho first shipment of tho seasoifs cheese was shipped per s.s. lonic on October 8, 1908, and consisted of 1338 cases. Tho s.s. Waiwera, which left Wellington on December 17, 1908,' established a record for quantity taken' in one steamer. The consignment consisted of 20,039 cases. ■

A Remarkable Season. ; "The season now practically closed has been a remarkable one in many respects/ A reference to its leading features may not be: without ■ interest. . In the first place, it may be well to not© what soijne of our competitors are doing' in the export of dairy produce. A reference to ; the undermentioned .export table of butter will show the position of the Commonwealth and tho Argentine as compared with the Dominion:— ;r * ; ', ' .1907-8. 1908-9. . Tons. Tons. Commonwealth 20,841' 14,620 Argentine 2,851, 3,500 New Zealand 13.537 '~13,800 ' "Tho export from the Commonwealth for the. season ; 1908-9, as compared with tho previous year, has decreased 6221 tons. The Argentim) has increased by. 649 tons.' Tho : trade. between Argentina, and South Africa has practically ceased during the last-twelve months, the total export output being sent to the United-Kingdom. New 'Zealand has increased its export; by 263 .tons. To this 'should be added the export: of .cheese for 1908-9 of 15,501 tons, 'which exceeds that of . the preceding year by 2468. tons. . From .the' above figures will be readily seen' the firogress made by other countries under simian conditions to our own, the expansion that it taking, place ill the production of cheese throughout the Dominion. , • . i Big Opening Friccs. l . ' offered by buyers for f.o.b. sales at the begnning of the season .were exceptionally :high. , In consequence of. mild autumn weather, in tho Northern Hemisphere,,which : materially assisted 1 au increased production, together, with " general depression of trade in the' United Kingdom, have influenced prices throughout tho season ,in a downward tendency. .s! Consequently; tho expectations that :a. high, range of values-would rule have not been fulfilled. : \ - 7 . Cheese, however,; which opened at 58s. in the London market, • steadily advanced until ■it -is now; quoted at from.62s. to'64s.{These' 'prices hardly warranted the figures at which sales wero effected. . ; ' Quality With Quantity. •: 1 'The ' quality,; of butter, ;■ from ;-a grading standpoint, has beeu 'a' 3 high as' proviousiy, . though unfortunately buyers has: not expressed the same satisfaction: with its .condition as 'formerly..' Cheeso, on, tho other hand, has, with few exceptions, improved and generally has -been commended' for; its' among those interested. . "Whilst,it may meet with .general approval among; thosfe, interested 'that' the. indus-i itry is; expanding'slowly, yet'jsurely,;. it-jis to, bo, hoped that those .immediately; concerned' should remember to maintain, • ar.d, • if possible, improve,- the .quality of .their products.' Our reputation for the,' manufacture ;of a high standard article must be maintained, or' a ; lower, level: of prices will ; obtain. ' "Reference was; made in tho 1908 report to constant; complaints that were made'from; the London buyers as to the quality of "cheese; on arrival,-'.and its-unfitness for immediate' sale. This; ■'difficulty, arose from the-imma-ture cheese." being .carried, at from 45 to 50; ■degrees. From' personal" .inspection, tho Dairy Commissioner; was dohvinred that the fault was not in the:cheese, but<in the temporaturo, of, the chamber. 'It', was decided, during the earlier months' of the season, ,to ■ .remedy this defect by raising the temperature to : 5o to 60 degree's. This was dorio with -satisfactory results. -The" Hitrh Commis-' 1 sioner s. cable, date December 14, 1903, contained - the. following :—'The Turakina ship-'i ment_ arrived' in good' condition. Tho result j of raising the degree of temperature in the. cold storage from 45-55 to 55-6Q-being very satisfactory ;• the cheese'being well matured' and ready, for sale.-' . ; • Eost Choose Ever Received. j n season, the association's agent,' Mr. Maclcie, -under date January 22, _ wrote l ,as - follows :— l Chocse which ar-. •riFcd in .tho-Corintbic' is considered 'on all hands to, be tho best ever received from New . Zealand/,;I havo! never. seen anything bettor; the : improvement , in. quality is remarkable, liie quality is, far in advance of last year If : this improyeniontis : continued, Kew Zealand che'eso will,, make a nam© for itself : this season:' ' • •; ' * '

■ , "One feature of the'; English "market is 'not ® D . c p. lir ®6' r 'ei. »t is ; the.- disparity iin .prices realised by .Damsh and New Zealand. Whilst .wo-Tudy never, expect, Who on such a .liigh level as. the .former because' of the conditions that nave; to bo encouut<»red and overcome, it is possible that the. difi'e'reiico in price can 'be lessened.; 'In the ;carly. part of the' season hew Zealand was within a few shillings of Danish. As the season advanced the.marinii increasod, until-it'reached from 10s. to 12s, per owt. possible that quality has ..some influence in determining value? ; Stoamer Sorvlcca. ■ "The. contract steamers during, the past season maintained: regular, :time-tablo dates, and iii a referenca to tho .tables attached to this report, it'-will, be noted that tb<s, arrivals havo', been fairly; satisfactory. In reference .to' the West of jUnglarid service, -this has proved to ba very, iinsatisfabtory. The. irregularity,'of departure, together; with the time .taken on the„.vojrage -by. the .steamers en- ; gaged in tho ' trade, has prevented ■ the -de-, velopment of business. Taking into account; the expansion and increaso in the output of dairy produce as compared with a few years ago, and the possibilities , of future trade in' this direction,- it is matter for consideration whether.' the time has • not arrived ,when it would be advisable,to ..endeavour' to improve this connection. Arbitration. ' :'"The long pending demands of the factory employees in tho/Wellington Industrial Districfc were heard' before the Arbitration Court at ; Palmersfcon. North • in March, 1909. The', award was filed in, April, and is for ono year, taking effect from Alay 31, 1909. Caro was taken in the pronaration of the evidence submitted to the Court on behalf of,tho employers, whilst a strong plea was made that no award should bo mauo. . There is.no doubt that the character of the evidence tendered influenced the Court in giving their award; It was recognised that the' conditions connected with the industry are difficult to deal with, and aro on an entirely different footing to secondary industries, where timo can bo regulated without detriment to, the article manufactured. "As the first award made by the Court, its operations will .be carefully noted by those interested in dairying. It appears reasonable, and should prove satisfactory. The interests of tho workers aro safeguarded. No unduly harassing restrictions are imposed 011 tho industry, and a strict adherence to tho provisions of tile award will provo whether its ultimate effect will bo of 1 benefit to tho industry or to those engaged in it. Dairy Regulations. "It: is believed that the dairy, .regulations proposed by the Department' of Agriculture will aot'bo KMott-ed. In consequence of tho

reorganisation of the Department,, tho administration of this important business will (jo transferred to tho dairying division. Tho association has consistently advocated, this policy that if instruction and supervision of tho raw material is essential it should bo placed in tho hands of those responsible for the. manufactured article. It is, therefore, desirable that milk inspection should bo controlled by tho Dairy Commissioner. A system might bo inaugurated whereby present Government dairy factory instructors, should bo allotted specified districts, with extended duties enabling them to assist and instruct in tho keeping and general improvement' of tho milk supply, and if this woro dono tho wholo difficulty would bo overcome with tho minimum of expense.. Tho Conference, "In addition to tho consideration of tho annual report and balance-sheet, valuable papers will bo read and addresses given at tho conference on topics, of. interest to dairy farmers. . Tho. agenda paper, a roforence to which will be found to contain matters of more, or less import bearing upon tho industry, is appended. You will also bo asked to elcct three directors in the. placo of Messrs. J. W. Foreman, A. Morton, and W. Borrie, who retire this year, but are eligible for reelection, and to appoint an auditor. Mr. C. D. Morpeth again offers himself for reelection." 1 .

: Valuable tabulated information as to exports of dairy produce is given, attached to tho report. 1 NATIONAL DAIRY CONFERENCE. WHAT IT WILL TALK ABOUT. Tho following is the agenda paper of the annual conference 'arranged by the National Dairy Association, to take placo on Tuesday and Wednesday (June 22 and 23) of the National Dairy Show at Palmorston North:— Tuesday, Juno 22, : 1909.—10.30 a.m.: Annual meeting National Dairy Association of N6w Zealand, ■ Ltd. (J. W. Foreman, president, .Joseph G. Harkness, secretary). 7.30 p.m. Meeting of contributors to the Homo Agents Fund; address by Mr. Charles Mackie, London agent. >■ • ■ Wednesday, June 23, 1909.—10.30 a.m.: "The Manuring of Pastures in New Zealand" (Mr. B. C. Aston, Chief Government Chemist). 11.15 a.m.: Paper, "Feed for Dairy Cows—its Production , and Nutritive Value" (Mr. J. Gillanders, \ Moumahaki). 12.15 p.m.: Address, "Some Aspects of tho Dairy Industry" (Mr. D. Cuddie,' Dairy Commissioner). 2.30 p.m.: Address, "Impressions of tho London Produce Trade" (Mr. Charles Mackie, London agent). ; NOTICES OF MOTION. ' Bay Dairy Company.^—'That in ™P- contract entered; into : with -.'ho shipping companies by the National Dairy Association, tho concession' of tho' payment coastal ifroight on butter and cheese by cho shipping companies be discontinued, with a view-to placing all Now Zealand dairy lactones on an equitable footing so far as expenses from the factories to the Homo steamers are concerned, and of obtaining a reduction in freight between New Zealand and Great. Britain."

N.Z. Farmers' Dairy Union.—"That a' committso bo set up in each local centre to fix tuo wholesale soiling price of dairy produce." Hawko's Bay Dairy Company.—"Whereas certain users - of, machinery in' the Dominion . are exempt from paying income tax • on 5 .per cent, of half the value of their .wliole plant .and machinery, and whereas 'dairy factories are only oxenjpt from paying income tax on 5 per cent, of half the valuo of steam engines and boilers, the Executive of tho iNational Dairy Association' bo; requested to ' n - t o ®' ca . s ®. with the Commissioner or 1 axes, with a view to'obtaining; a Supremo Oourt , ruling as to whether dairy factories are not entitled to an exemption from income tax of 5 per cent.:on all: the plant and machinery used in the manufacture of butter and cbeesc.

. Awatuna Co-operative Dairy. Company.lhat the Executive of the.National Dairy, Association be requested to ask tho Government to promote spocml legislation enabling co-opcrative dairy companies to borrow money from any person, company, banlt, or other co-' operation, and re-lend the saino to such perfirms As shall bo approved of by tho directors, upon such security, terms .covenants, and-oonditionsj and at such rates of ,interest as the directors shall think fit" Moa Dairy Company.-"That a sub-com-mitteo be set up to inijiliro into the indent : business, as m the opinion of the Moa Dain .Company, tho association should T>e able to ii .dent on more. reasonable terms than private