DAIRY PRODUCTION INCREASES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 134, 23 June 1937, Page 15

DAIRY PRODUCTION INCREASES

— Press Association.)

Minister Reviews Past Season's Returns QUALITY MAINTAINED

(By Telegraph-

HAMILTON, This Day. An increase of 5,96$ tons in the amount of dairy produce manufactured in the Dominion for the year ended March 31 was the principal feftture of the dairying industry mentioned by the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. W. Lee Martin, in addressing the annual conference pf tho New Zealand HerdTesting Federation at Hamilton today. "Although the dairy yeaT. does nol officially conclude until July 31st next, it is possible at this stage to indicate its? outstanding f eatures, ' 1 commented the Minister. "The seasoq has been one of the wettest on record, and, although the volume of production • has been more than maintained, the moist nature of the pastures has made the maintenanee of quality a difficult problem for the manufacturers. At the beginning of the autumn there was a tuni for the better, and- the comparatively mild weather gave an impetus to production. The result has been that, while the statistics relating to the dairy industry at the end of March last were not, perhaps, as favourable as anticipated, it is expeeted that autumn figures will be unusually high. "During the year ended March 31 /last, 151,436 tons of creamery butter and 89,966 tons of butter had come for- ; ward for grading, eompared with 145,990 tons of butter and 86,250 tons of cheese for the prevjous year, an increase of 5,446 tons of butter (or 3.73 per cent.) and 3,716 tons of cheese (or 4.31 per cent.). On a butter-fat basis the increase was 5,968 tons, or 3.85 per cent. I thing you will agree with me that in the circumstances the' figures are most satisfactory. Effect of Rainfall. "Owiug to the phenomenally Uigti rainfall, districts such as North Auckland, Hawke ;s Bay, Nelson, Marlborough and Canterbury, whieh usually suli'er from a lack of rain in the summer months, have been ideal for dairying, but in Westland . and Otago and Southland conditions have been un--favourable, and extremely trying for the farmer, It is perhaps wo.rthy of note that the Auckland provinee has, in the year ended March 31 last, ,on a ; butter-fat basis, contributed 58 per cent of the total exports. Ten years ago Auckland 'g percentage of the total exports was 47.5 per cent. May I congratulate the farmers of the Auckland provinee on their achievement ? "The reports of the department 'a oificers in the United Hingdo.m indicate that our Butter and cheese has been well reeeived on that markef, and have maintained their high reputation for quality. Our buttgr ha.s made inroads "on to some of the markets ia the North of England where the Danish product I has its stroagest appeal. There have been no major faults in the quality of our butter, but openness and mould have marred some of our cheese. The question of openness is still an unsplyed problem, but I am glad to say that in this regpeet there has been jan improyement, and there is a.0 indica- ; tion that the mould posjtjon is more serious. ' '