The Ellesmere Guardian. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 1891 A HINT TO FARMERS.

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume X, Issue 899, 8 April 1891, Page 2

The Ellesmere Guardian. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 1891 A HINT TO FARMERS.

Csristohuroh people are becoming aware— very gradually -—of what the farmers of our district were warned of many months ago, namely thai Canterbury is losing its butter trade. Letters have recently appeared m the local papers apparently written by butter makers, lamenting the loss of trade, and condemning the want of encouragement of local industry shown by those who purchase Taranaki butter. ( The .'local industry' claim is a very good one and thoroughly deserves support so long as the locally produced article is up to a good standard ; but when, by. the retention ' of obsolete , methods and bad workmanship, the local article sinks far, below par, sentiment has, to give way ,to ordinary business principles. •.''•■■'■'■ And unfortunately a large proportion of Canterbury butter sent into the mar* ket is very inferior... Only a few Hays ago one Curistchurch grocer had to send away to the biscuit factories tbrea hundred pounds weight of 1 butter \i Men was too poor m quality for ordinary; 'house-! hold use, and large quantities of butter are to be had at any price down to a penny a pound. And while (( we, have these facts, so tolling against; our local; dairies, forced upon our notice, we. have the additional fact stating us m the face that during the past few months butter to the value of two thousand pounds sterling has been imported into Canterbury from Taranaki. ' Will our dairymen learn the lesson thus taught ? We have before Us a' letter 'from a, dairy farmer at Ingle wood, Taranaki, an extract from which might be instructive to some of our readers. He writes :— " My present price is 6£d,'f.o.'b., packages non returnable. My butter ia all factory make as I aim at uniformity m article and package, both m quality and appearance. I cannot consent to returned packages, as I will not use any second hand materials of any sort . fcoxes to : contain about 60lbs~cost Is 6d ; totara kegs: and brine for 601b3. :35." This letter discloses the secret of the sale ; here of Taranaki instead of Canterbury butter, namely, uniformity m quality and appearance. Dealers know that a uniform quality and appearance can be relied on. Doubtless some Canterbury butter is good ; but the' produce of the same dairy varies at times, being better one week than another, while from some , dairies good butter is an impossibility. One dairy farmer m a small way explaining to a visitor recently why there were so many flies about her little three roomed cottage said • the pig died m there yesterday, and the ; boys haven't removed it yet.' ' There,' m this inst-* ance was the room used as the dairy. In many cases the ' dairy ' is the bedroom. The produce of dozens of such dairies is sent into Oiiristohuroh and ! what wonder if it finds its way to the biscuit factojy or is. utterly unsaleable j eyen at a penny, while Tftrana,kji better ot good wen qaaJHy astf ftflpearftDSß ij

remedy for this state of things is the establishment of creameries and factories. ■':,''•■' '*-:-,■