DAIRY PRODUCE

Hokitika Guardian, 3 September 1929, Page 8

DAIRY PRODUCE

REVIEW OF PAST SEASON. WELLINGTON, Aug. 27. The annual report of the Dairy Export Board which was approved at the meeting to-day gives an interesting summary of the dairy year. Production for the 12 months ended July 31st. the report states, constituted an absolute record, amounting to 81,656 tons of butter, an increase of 9.27 per cent, and 86,605 tons of cheese an increase of 14.3 per cent, over the preceding season. On a butter-fat basis this increase amounted to 10.8 per cent, over the preceding 12 months thus putting into circulation approximately £2,250,000 more cash. A feature of the year was a substantial decrease in the exports to Canada. In connection with the expanding trade to Canada it is announced that arrangements have been made with the Union Steam Ship Company for a reduction of 6d per box from the rate of 4s Cd formerly ruling, conditional up-/ on the heavy volume of export now ruling continuing. The butter market for the year had been good showing muen less variation than in preceding years. In quality, the position was that New Zealand’s butter had never attained a higher standard than obtained in the past season. The total quantity graded was 3,214,303 boxes, compared with 2,922,629 in the preceding year. The percentages of quality were: Finest, 70.24 per cent,; first, 27.47" per cent.; under first, 28 per cent. Cheese showed little variation in'grading quality from the preceding year, the average for tlie sea/ion being 91.86 compared with 91.87,1 the percentage of quality being: Finest, 29.31 per cent; first, 68.86 per cent.; under first, 1.82 per cent.

In advertising, the'sum of £16,700 had been spent in Great Britain in developing a demand for New Zealand cheese. Satisfa'cjtory results were being secured. The board’s scheme of gift butter, under which a package of 41b of “finest” butter was delivered to any address in the United Kingdom, was proving increasingly popular, the turn-over having grown from ; 1497 packages in 1926 to 3845 in 1929.

Under the board’s annual competition for trophies for factories showing the greatest improvement in points in each grading year the following awards were made:

Butter. 92 points and over.—Golden Bay I, Unitea 2, Arahura 3. Butter, 90 points and under points.—Rodney 1, Katikati 2, Marokopa 3.

Cheese, 92}i points and over.—Rya‘l Bush 1, Brydone 2, Belvedere 3. Cheese, 90 points and under 924 points.—Maungatua 1, Mangawhata 2/ Stratford-Huinga branch 3. The statement of income and expenditure shows that the levy received was £34,875 and the interest on investments £IBB9. The cost of the head office in New Zealand was £(067, and in London £5393, making a total of £12,360, showing a reduction of approximately £6OOO from last- year’s figure. The total expenses amounted to £27,088 which gave, after grants for dairy research, etc.', an excess of income over expenditure for the year for £5624. The board’s reserve funds stand at £33,943, compared with £36,995 at the start of the board’s financial year.

The hoard’s report was adopted and ordered to be printed.