AUSTRALIAN BUTTER.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4798, 12 January 1925, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN BUTTER.

APPIiOACHINU N.Z. QUALITY.

FREIGHT LESS FOR DOMINION.

Australia has been following New lead in the dairying industry, and the good results of Government grading, accompanied by instruction from practical men, are being shown in the improved quality of the output from many New South Wales and Victorian factories which were visited by Mr T. C. Brash, secretary ot the New Zealand Dairy Export Control Board, who has returned from a visit to Australia. Mr Brash is quite ready to admit that the cabled suggestion from London regarding Australia’s chance of getting its price margit up to New Zealand’s is excellent.

“I am not a bigoted New Zealander,” remarked Mr Brash to a representative of the Lyttelton Times, ‘‘and I am prepared to admit that the best butters in Australia are equal to our own. In the past Australian producers suffered from lack of Government grading and practical instruction, but they have taken a leaf from our book and are getting over their handicaps. They have also gone to the extent of adopting Federal control of the export of dairy produce. Victoria and New South Wales, which I visited, expect to have a record dairying season, the rains having been good and the country being in splendid condition. Anticipating, however, reduced prices for export, these States have dropped prices for local consumption. The factories in the best dairying districts are selling one pound pats to stores at is 3%d, which is less than -export parity at present.” Mr Brash has definite evidence that New Zealand dairying producers have an advantage over Commonwealth producers in connection with overseas freights. “They are paying 4s 6d a box to London and we are paying 4s. Wo are also three-thirty-seconds pt a penny per pound better off in cheese freights,' though their cheese export is not very larce. An opinion was expresses to me that New Zealand has gained an advantage in shipping and insurance contracts thrpugh having"<o good central organisation, which Australia does not possess for the purpose of negotiating these important matters. They admitted freely that not only in but in insurance we were better off, but they are overcoming their handicaps, for they recognise that control of primary ducts should be in the hands of the producers themselves to a great ,ex•tent. i