Untitled

Hokitika Guardian, 8 July 1927, Page 2

One of the pleasant surprises regarding the dairy output this year is that in some parts of the Dominion all records in the matter of production have been exceeded. For instance, it has been apparent for some time the dairy output of the Auckland province during tlie season which closed on June 30th. would substantially exceed all previous records. Though a seasonal reduction occurred in June as compared with the. previous month, the recipients of butter were more than double those of June 1926. and there was also a big increase in the cheese returns. Tlie remarkable output of the present season is a fine tribute to tlie soil and climate of the Auckland province, as well as to the enterprise of the farmers. Their success in reaching this new record of production will act as a welcome offset to the loner prices that have been obtainable this season. Tho comparative figures for the past three Auckland Provincial seasons were :

Ill,* .Ml iJ.MiI II Hill I I It i i I .Mr 111 JMWUUUiuii is very gratifying counteracting as it does the fall of prices as regards the aggregate wealth returned from the dairying industry. Another pleasing aspect of the situation is that on June 30th. the amount of produce still on hand at the stores was 150.044 boxes of butter, and 7264 crates of eliee.se compared with 102.206 boxes of butter and 3148 crates of cheese last year. Tt is noticeable that in the North Island greater unanimity exists among the factories in regard to marketing, while as a means to reduce the costs of production, centralisation of manufacture is being more generally adopted, by a merger of contiguous factories or unity of action in regard to collection of cream in various districts to save time and overlapping. The sensible course being pursued in that respect might well be practiced in other parts of the Dominion, and Westland in particular, with its many factories and comparatively small production, seems to offer a special example where joint cooperation or unity of action could be practiced with greatly enhanced re-

suits to the producers in the seasonal returns. With regard to this latter aspect, it is noticeable that the officers of the New Zealand Agricultural Department in recent addresses at conferences or other assemblages of dairy factory suppliers, have been advocating closer unity or fusion, to cut down costs of production, not only as a setoif to falling prices, but as a. means to assure to tbe dairy farmer a permanently larger return for bis production. Economical administration with regard to overhead expenses counts in the balance, and it is from tbe latter the surplus available for but-tcr-fnt payments is derived. This is a subject the dairy farmers should be taken into serious consideration when discussing general matters at the animal meetings of the several dairy factories in the district.

1924-2o Butter (boxes! 1.050.021 192o-26 do do 1 .G71.db2 192G-27 do do 1.9:16.994 1924-2-j Choose (orates! 13:1,441 1924-20 do do 162.742 1920-27 do do 181.807 Tlu* substantial increase in product i