DAIRYING MATTERS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1752, 17 May 1913, Page 8

DAIRYING MATTERS.

THE AUSTRALIAN DELEGATION. Referring to the decision of the recant intsr-Stato co-operative ilairv conference to send representatives to New Zealand to inquire into dairying matters, I lie (Sydney "ilerald" says that the pronounced uitfereucc between the butter of IN'civ Zealand and that of Australia has at last driven home' its lesson. The co-operative men who realise that tliu general improvement of Australian batter is the best means of combating tlic inroads of' the margarino trade in the Old Country are turning to New Zealand for instruction. The question is whether they will bo open to honestly recognise the reason of tho high standard of dairying in the Dominion, for it is mainly the result of a system of compulsory grading of butter, including the use of the grade stamp. And the co-operative people in Australia, who ar'o now apparently inclined to listen to reason, have always bitterly opposed compulsory grading, and vioiontiy objected to the* use of the grade stamp. As was pointed out previously, the conierenee that decided to seek inlormation in New Zealand, at the same time, unanimously condemned tho principle of the grade stamp. That being so, the New Zealand system is condemned, and a contradictory position occupied. It is most illogical tho conference proposing the.sending of a. committee to New Zealand to ascertain tho reason of the success attained by the dairying industry, yet condemning the main reason of that success. It makes it hard to believo that investigation will bo quite unbiased. Yet it is imperative that it should be, and tho dairy farmers should make it their business to see that this is tho ease. ( Sonie ten years ago a special examination of conditions in New Zealand was made by the "Sydney Mail," and tho writer who reported on tho system then advised the producers to send some of their own numbers to New Zealand to investigate for themselves. Provided the men were practical dairy farmers, lio was satisfied that they would approve of compulsory grading when they returned. That advice was not taken, but a section of the producers at least have allowed themselves to l}e considerably led astray with regard to this, question. Now that the matter has been taken up by the co-operative forces, tho suppliers should see that amongst those who make 1 the investigation in New Zealand there are a number of practical, shrewd farmers, who may bo depended upon to learn the true position, irrespective of how it may agree with tho past opinions of some prominent co-operators, and ascertain how tho producer can be most assisted. For tho dairying industry is unquestionably approaching a stage when it will require assistance. On the one hand every indication points to labour becoming dearer, and the prico of living greater, and on tho other they must feel uneasy at the increasing strength of the margarine trade, which all'eots their returns. The remedy in each case is to improve their returns. Better methods of farming will do much, and better methods throughout tho whole industry, from the handling of the cream on the farm to the making and handling of. the butter, until it reaches the consumer, will do still more. Together they should maintain the supremacy of tho industry—if either is neglected tho future is hazardous.