THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1924. THE PROGRESS OF DAIRYING.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4758, 1 October 1924, Page 2

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1924. THE PROGRESS OF DAIRYING.

The season for dairying, which is now recognised as a national industry of premier importance, is again in full swing, and our national welfare will be gauged by what success the industry enjoys during the immediate future. At the present time New 3e'aland has the proud reputation of being the “Dairy Farm ofi the Empire,” but. it should be borne in mind that thereis very keen competition with Hol; land, Denmark, and Argentine ; and in Australia, too, the industry has de.veloped considerably during.the past few seasons. How thfe ■ competition can be met successfully is a matter requiring immediate attention —every phase of the industry must be competently managed in order to maintain the pi esent position. From the point of view of delivery of produce to the wo ,- ld markets New Zealand is handicapped by distance, and this has often given our competitors tin advantage over us. The distance certainly cannot be lessened, and all that can be done its to increase the number of fast-travelling merchant steamers. The subterfuge of commercial interests operating on the markets, especially in London, has to be combated, and in this connection the operations of the Dairy Control Board should be of material benefit. Another factor is the handling of produce in New Zealland. There is not the shadow of a doubt but that the grading experts are men of experience, and that they are working on the correct lines. So far as the factories are concerned, there are no doubt some where there its ample room for improvement, but, generally speaking, the managers are well conversant with the most modern methods and do their utmost to manufacture a first-class product. Reverting, however, to the dairy farms we are of the opinion'that the chief weak spot in the industry is to be found in the ranks of the producers. in 1909 the firtt herd-testing

association was formed, and since then progressive men have inaugurated the movement 'in various centres. Other ambitious men have taken up the question of improved breed, and have endeavoured to conduct the industry along scientific lines, but, unfortunately, there are dairyfarmers who carry on from season to season in the same listless and unprogressive way. There is much room for improvement : more attention to calfrearingl and sanitation in and around the milking quarters •, kinder treatment of the cow, and the growing of supplementary forage crops ; and, just as important, the wholehearted support of every dairy farmbr to that excellent movement, the herd-testing associations. Only by strict attention to all such details, and by the application of scientific methods on the. farms, can the competition of other countries be met. We hope, for our national welfare and for individual good, that there will be a general im-. provement in the industry, more especially locally, during the 1924-25 season.