OUR CHEESE BUSINESS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 11110, 6 May 1911, Page 8

OUR CHEESE BUSINESS.

"PRODUCERS SHOULD BE SATISFIED." "It is a very fortunate thing that the prices for dairy produce keep at a good level, nioro especially -for cheese, in which. article of -produce so many of our members aro interested," said Mr. W. Howard Booth, tho president of tho Wairarapa and East Coast P. and A. . Society at the society's annual meeting at Carterton yesterday. "Tho output of cheeso from tha various factories in the Wairarapa for the season 1009-1910 was. 2272 tons, made up as follow: —Belvedere Factory, 2b'O tons; Dalefield, 500; Featherston, 424; Greytown, 294; Longbiish, 36; Otaraia, 74; Parkvalo, 250; Taratahi, 211; Tawaha, 73; Mr. Bunny's factory (approximately), 60; Mr. li. Bayner s factory, 45; Mr. J. Chosham's factory, 20; and Mr. B. R. Rayner's factory, 35 tons.

"The current season started very well with a largo supply of milk, and thoro was every indication that' last season's figures would be exceeded,, but tlio dry weather experienced during the months of February, March, and April caused tho milk supply to dccioaso so rapidly that I cannot think there will bo any increase on last season's aggregate. Tho value, however, may show a slightincrease. Last season's cheese averaged £49 10s. per ton f.o.b. Wellington. On account of tho high prices ruling for butter at tlio beginning of tho season quite a number of factories possessing dual plants made butter, with tr.e result that tho quantity of butter ixpuried to December 31 last showed an increase of 12 per cent, on tho preceding season's figures, while cheeso showed ii decreed of 18 nor cent. As butter prices eased and cheese prices hardened, attention was again diverted to cheese, with the result that butter oxported now shows an increase of B.J per cent., and cheese a decrease of 4 per cent. The following figures show tho increase in butter and cheeso exported from tho Dominion during tho last five years ended August 31, 1910, also tho butter exported from Australia during the last four years:— AusN.Z. N.Z. tralian

butter, cheeso. butter. Year. Tons. Tons. Tons. 1905-6 14,712 6,017 — 1906-7 14,719 9,691 33,169 WO7-8 10,719 13,553 21,725 1908-0 13,150 17,965 15,578 1300-10 16,274 23,549 29,754 The current season's Australian butter shows an increase of 44 per, cent, 'against: Now Zealand's 81 percent. 1 "Tho wisdom of tho directors of the Wairarapa factories, in.strictly adhering to tho manufacture, ot cheese is at'onco apparent. Thero is every indication that tne good prices obtained this year vill bo continued. The fact that Canadian cheese, or a largo portion of it, will be sent to the United States, must tentl, if anything, to increase the price of Now Zealand cheese on tho Home Market. It must be remembered, however, that too largo a price for any article of consumption only tends to reduce its use as a food, and it , would not bo altogether good for us if cheese wens to. too high a value, and producers should-bo satisfied.if present-prices aro 'maintained. It is now quoted at 625. to 635. per 1001b." Mr. Booth stated after the meeting tiiafc his reference to Canadian cheese was based on an assumption that reciprocity would bo carried.