DAIRY INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1772, 10 June 1913, Page 8

DAIRY INDUSTRY

DEVELOPMENT IN TARANAKI. (By Telegraph—Special Correspondent.) Wannanui, Juno 9. ■Some interesting figures concerning the big development in tue dairy industry of New''Plymouth were given by Mr. i'. S. Johns, president, at tho annual meeting ol tile Cimmber of Commerce. The'total foreign exports of butter and cheese from Taranaki, ho said, showed a generous increase of .£320,051, cheeso accounting for an increase of ,£3SS,'IS9, whilo butter shoived a decrease of .£38,435. On making a comparison of tho figures at the ports of shipment, it was interesting to note that New Plymouth handled a total value in cheese and butter ot .£570,82?, while Patea, the port for South Taranaki, shipped mainly in cheese a total of .£808,231. From these figures it would bo seen that Taranaki had contributed', a substantial share to the general increase in dairy produce, experienced by tho Dominion for the year ending March 31. As an indication of- the progress of tlie industry, it. was pleasing to note that tho total value of butter and cheese exported from the Dominion stood second on the list of exports, having for the first timo beaten that of frozen meat. The Taranaki province, lie pointed out, had gono very largely into cheese manufacturing, ft wise move, he thought, in view of tho steady decline in cheese exports from Canada and other countries, to Great Britain, and also of the keener competition from margarine, which butter may experience in tho near future. The manufacture gf casein was now an established branch %. the dairying industry, and one that promised to bring in a substantial increase in tho profits of tho several companies operating in it. I regret to say," added Mr. Johnston, "that duriug tho past season there have been a great many complaints about tho quality of our cheese, and a note of warning in this direction is necessary. Quality is tlie watchword of success in this industry, as it has been in that of butter, and the Dominion cannot afford to risk a setback to an export business ill cheese amounting to nearly .£2,000,000 for want of moro ctiro in manufacture or supervision." The frozen meat trade, Mr. Johns ad,ded, was also good, tho total exports at Now- 1 Plymouth, Waitara, and Patea amounting to .£191,435, which was on increase of <£30,271 over the figures .of previous year. With reference to wool, tho total exports of all classes of this staple product amounted to «£11G,*495, and showed a decrease of .£lB,-103, as against the year 1911-1912, the deficiency being almost entirely accounted for at AVaitara, where the bulk of the wool was shipped. Tallow, skins, hides, ctc., accounted for another £50,000, bringing the total up to X 1,736,307, which figures showed an_ increaso for the twelve months of ,£365,461. When to theso export figures was addod the produce which went into home consumption throughout tho Dominion, it would be readily seen that. Taranaki's total production ran to well over £1,000,000, a result upon which the province was to be heartily congratulated. _ The importance of better handling and accommodation for produce on the British markets was also referred to, and in conclusion, Mr. Johns faid. that a factor that is in the near future going to iiicrease tho demand for our produce is tlie amendment of the tariffs of America and Europe. "The people of theso continents will," he said, "insist on dulyfree food, and within the next few years I predict that such a demand will sot in for tho output of our primary industries from foreign, as will give this Dominion an immense impetus of trade. It behoves us, therefore, to see that we avail ourselves of every opportunity to increaso our production, so that in the near future wo shall, be able to export a very much greater total than our present one of ,£23,0u0,000 per annum. _ As Taranaki must very largely share in the increased demand, I earnestly commend tho future councils of tho chamber to use every effort in furthering the completion of the Stratford-Ongarue, and New Ply-mouth-Opunake railways, tlie reading of our back-blocks, and the settlement of our idle lands, all of which matters affect our future welfaro."