BUTTER INDUSTRY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2258, 1 August 1908, Page 1

BUTTER INDUSTRY.

THE MEETING OF THE SEASONS. Tho old nnd the now seasons are beginning to meet in tile districts whence tho butter comes (says tho “Dominion”), and although tho yield from the old season is reaching a. very low ebb, the arrival of soino cows at the calving stage, with its consequent flush of milk and butter-fat, is beginning to counteract the decline. Statements have been published that there is practically no butter being made in Now Zealand at tho present- time. This, of course, is untrue. ALthough many of tho factories are closed, there aro still a large number, especially in Taranaki, which make butter all through the winter. Tho Piliama Dairy Company, in Taranaki, is one .of those that are still making butter. Its output at prosent is about 20 boxes (half a ton) on alternate days—a very substantial amount when it is stated that its output in. the height of tho season is only about 60 boxes per day. One of the directors of tho riliama Factory states that he sees signs already of an early opening of tho next soason> judged from the state of tho feed and the dates at which the ■cows .arc coining to profit. In his own. herd there are between 20 and 30 cows duo to calve next week. Mr. Burgess, another of Taranaki’s prominent dairy farmers, anticipates an early season along tlio West Coa6t, between New Plymouth and Egmon-t. But in some other dairying parts tho same earliness is not expected. In spite of tlio opinion of an early season, the optimism of dairy factory men as to the prices that will rule before the supply begins to exceed the local demand is rather remarkable. Tbev are supported in their views, however, by high prices already offered by merchants. One offer is quoted of 16 a pound for a complete output for September and October—an indication of a beliof in high prices for a considerable period after the season opens.