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Hokitika Guardian, 23 March 1925, Page 2

Fon some years past the development of the Argentine dairy industry has claimed the close attention of the Government, and with the gradual introduction of modern methods, encouraged and assisted hy the present enterprising Minister of Agriculture, tlte progress of the industry has been imtreaaive. The exportation of butter

has attained important proportions, nearly 33,000 tons having been shipped in 1923, over So per cent, of which was taken by the United Kingdom. According to the annual report of the British Chamber of Commerce in the Argentine Republic for the year 1923-21, closer attention is now lieing given to grading. Cheese, embracing practically all the hotter known types, is being made on a large scale for export and local sale. An expert, recently contracted from the United Kingdom hy the Ministry o! Agriculture, is now instructing the Argentine dairy farmers in the art of cheese-making and the production of other milk products, so that the improvement in this branch of Argentina’s dairy industry, both in quantitv and quality, can lie confidently expected. The importance of the Argentine dairy industry is acknowledged, and competent observers are of opinion that within a relatively short time this Republic* bids fair to become a serious competitor of New Zealand for the hulk of the world’s blitter supply, an opinion which i.s strengthened hy a comparison o! the. land values in the two countries. It is admitted that the New Zealand dairy farmer i.s settled on land which costs him three times as much as his Argentine competitor paid for his farm of the same size, a circumstance which must sooner or later be reflected in the respective costs of production.