REQUEST FOR A BUTTER GRADER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2138, 22 July 1907, Page 4

REQUEST FOR A BUTTER GRADER.

DECLINE I) BY THE DTOPAT?TAt 10NT.

Tlio Gisborne, brunch of lllio I’. U. Farmers’ Union Ims received the following I ■ lfrom Alt'.'McN»l>. Ministor for Agriculture:— \\ * I'. i" 1- : «•!!'•<' to voir lottor of tho I ' ll! n't , lorwariling copy of- resolution passed by your branch, urging lint u but,' :• r hr stationed at Gidv.irno from Sop tom Imr Ist to jin .h t'.lst i'i. .each vi. or that a guidr bo appointed to work Napier ami Uisborni have the honor to infill m you that I have hail the matter looked into very carefully, and find that the quantity of buttoi: exported from (lislioroe is unite immtlieient to warrant the appointment of a grader ■it that port d'l’-iiu.- tl'e •••|Vi-h re:-.p:v. .j the app.milment of a grader to work both Napier and Gisborne, I find that the hotter likely to go forward to Napier for grailin,r would he the output of one factory only, namely. Nuhaka, as nono of tin other dairy factories in Hawke's Ha.V would entertain the idea ot shipping through Napier when the question was brought under their notice on a former occasion. Another fact that, must lie home in muni in connection with any proposu.t- to grade and store butter at Gisborne or Napier, is that the regular fortnightly steamers carrying dairy produce to Loudon do not always at these ports, consequently the dairy companies would be unable to have their butter landed on the Home_ markets at regular intervals, which is so desirable in all cases. “I would also point out- that tlio only saving which dairy farmors supplv'iug the Poverty Bay factories would effect by having a. grader at Gisborne would he tho freight on the butter to Auckland, which amounts to only one-eleventh of a penny per lb. In view,' therefore, of all the circumstances, I am of opinion that the time- has not vet arrived to make a n appointment in either of the directions desired by your club, and 1 regret that I am unable to comply with your request.” . The chairman (Air. AA . D. Lysnar) remarked at Saturday's meeting that

the Minister was in error in assuming that the chief consideration was tho saving o'f freight to Auckland. This was of minor importance. Jim principal reason urged for tho appointment was tho fact that the cairiago to Auckland, without freezing chamber appliances, materially affected the quality of the butter. Air 0. Gallagher said that- efforts should ho directed to increasing the butter output in this district.. Gut up some of the big estates in this district and the industry would soon go ahead. The- Chairman : Tho Government are making a start by cutting i p the To Arai estate. The opinion was expressed bv members that further representations to tho Alin istor would ho useless at this juncture, ■ hut tli-c matter mill he kept in view.