DAIRY INDUSTRY.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 December 1924, Page 4

DAIRY INDUSTRY.

DANISH EXPERT’S VIEWS. In view of Denmark being ottr principal competitor in the dairy industry, the visit to Xew Zealand of Air S. Sorensen, the Agrietultural Adviser to the Danish Government, attached to the Danish Legation at Washington, and his comments on dairying conditions here, are of especial interest.

In thi‘ course of tin interview with a representative of the “Dominion” Air Sorensen said that alter the war Denmark realised the advantage of gaining more information appertaining to the agrietultural conditions of other countries, and consequently the Agricultural Department commissioned experts to carry out this work. “We have had tin exuert lor the oast 36 years in England,” said Air Sorensen. “ anil after the war I was sent to America to report 011 agrietultural conditions there and the improvement of trade between Canada and the United States. We also have renresentntives both in Germany and Russia. I go home from America every year, attending all the big national and provincial shows, addressing lariners, and keeping in touch with exporters. Last time I was at Heine I gatlu •red iiiloi mat ion about the development of the dairying industry in the Southern Hemisphere, as compared with conditions before the

\vsir. Mr Sorensen snout two months in Australia, and he lias been in .New Zealand for the oast six weeks, lie attended I lie Royal Show al I’almerslon North, com 'celling which lie said the exhibits showed that New Zealand possessed excellent cattle. ” I saw you have some very goood strains of animals hen*,” he said, •• ami something to build no on." "WELL ABREAST OF THE TIMES.” Upon visiting the lint country in the South Island In* found that everything down there was contributory to efficacious dairy farming, ami the farms uere much bigger than those in bis own country. In Denmark intense cultivation was a necessity among the farmers. Mr Soienson was much impressed by the Dominion’s big cheese centres. " I know you are the biggest exporters of cheese in the world,” he. said. " and I was very much interested in observing what imiirovements you have made in producing more uniform cheese. This is bound to have a big effect on the export of this conunodity, because, if you concentrate on a particular brand and make it popular you will acouire a more stable market.” In its dairying activities Mr Sorensen was of opinion that New Zealand was keeping well abreast of the times and going forward. This was a patent fact from what he saw at the big dairying factories in the Auckland mid Hamilton districts, and where twenty to thirty times more butter was produced than in the Danish factories. Summing nil his impressions, he considered that in view of the comparative short time that the dairying industry had been established in New Zealand, it had made a wonderful progress. To draw companisoiis with Denmark was rather difficult in view of the dissimilar conditions of the two countries. New Zealand had a better climate than Denmark and a milder winter. which meant so much. We had also plenty of land still that we did not need to cultivate. "A WONDERFUL SYSTEM.” " Your dairying is a pastoral industry,” he said; " ours is an industry built up on imported goods and an intensive cultivation of crops with which to feed our cattle. This necessitates a great deal of hand labour. It seems to me you have introduced a wonderful system of grading your butter and cheese for sale, in addition io having special instructors appointed by your Agricultural Department who keep in touch with the factories and ensure that the produce is of the highest quality. This practice has a very great influence on the quality and unitormity of your butter and cheese being maintained." After visiting the Argentine where lie will continue his study of dairying conditions. Mr Sorensen will return to Washington to compile a report. He paid a tribute to thediospitalitv of the Agricultural Depratinent’s officials, particulalv Mr Singleton, and the tour- ; tesv and kindness with which he had been received bv all whom he had come in contact with in this country. ” Although we are competitors.” j said Mr Sorensen, "there is no reason why Now Zealand and Denmark shiuld not benefit by an interchange of ideas concerning the advancement ut the j dairying industries in l>oth countries.