TWENTY MILLIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 14 May 1930, Page 7

TWENTY MILLIONS

DOMINION’S BUTTERFAT 1 PRODUCTION.

DAIRYING COSTS IN DETAIL,

WELLINGTON, May 9

A complete statistical review of the dairying industry has been made by the Government Statistician, who has

had to handle big figures in the process, for the value of butterfat purchased from suppliers during the dairying year 1928-29—the “pay-out” —reached the large total of nearly £20,000,000. This was a 13 per cent increase over the preceding year, and the total value of the manufactured products went up by two and a half millions sterling, equal to 11 per cent above the previous season. There were increases in practically every phase of the industry. Persons employed in manufacture, 4288, in-

creased bv 3 per cent, and the wages 'ji 11, which amounted to £945,005, representing a 4 per cent rise. Other operating expenses of importance were:—

£ Milk and cream cartage ...... 297,693 Boxes, rennet, other materials / 930,889 Other manufacturing and op- ‘ erating expenses 954,548 Marketing expenses, including levy £1,087,248

The number of home separators in use shows a decline, the total being 41,773, compared with 43,096 in the previous year, while increased efficiency in factories has reduced the number of separators from 684 to 602. The value of lands and buildings used in the industry is £2,160,567, and the plants are worth £1,743,480 representing £3,904,047 invested in the manufacturing side. Suppliers, who numbered 55.947 in the previous year, were 57,823 in the period under review, and'their average receipts from pay-out were £345. A comparative table shows that cream cartage, where it is provided by the dairy companies, is a large item of cost, • which went up by- 6 pen cent, .during .(.the year, white'' materials increased' by- 31 per cent.! (this being due mainly to larger output), and other expense's,.of manufacture rose -by 18 per cent, y Finally, the . survey traces the distribution of every £IOO received by dairy' factories for their'product, as follows:

j; S' •> ■ ; :i £ Salaries: a/nd wages ..J......... :;r.: 3.88 Milk and dream cartage .... 1.22 I’ay-out to; suppliers ' 81.92 .... 3.82 Other operating expenses 1 . j/:. 3.92 Marketing expenses :... 4.46 Undistributed surplus ..... 0.78 Total >£100.00