THE RURAL WORLD.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 468, 25 May 1912, Page 6

THE RURAL WORLD.

NEW ZEALAND DAIRY ASSOCIATION, LTD. TRIBUTE TO GO-OPERATION. MAGNIFCIENT PROSPECT. On Saturday aftenoon last Mr 11. E. Pacey, general manager of the New Zealand Dairy Association, Ltd., returned to Auckland after a prolonged visit, to the Waikato. While there Mr Pacey met the milk suppliers to his company's creameries in each of the 53 centres which lie in the Upper Waikato district. He was accompanied by Mr Wesley Spragg, chairman of directors of the association, and usually by another director also. Generally speaking, the meeting were of a cordial character, and the indications for a substantial increase in the supply cf butter fat for next season are very promising. In reviewing the present position of his company at the different meetings, Mr Pacey drew attention to the fact that the Dairy Association is now the third largest butter manufacturing concern in the world, and that this year its output was only 1713 tons per annum, thus showing an increase of about 2400 tons for the three years, of which rather more than 700 tons have been gained during the season which is now closing. The Home Separation Company which started in the Waikato three years ago announces that their output for the present season is estimated at about 700 tuns, thus their whole output is only equal to the increase alone which the Diiry Association has registered for the present season. Mr Pacey remarked that this did not indicate a desire on the part of any considerable section of the milk suppliers to turn from the creamery system to that of home-separation. The Dairy Association will during the coming season certainly receive butter fat from persons who this year are supplying the Home Sparation Company, some suppliers having already resumed delivery to the creamery. This tendency is to be accounted for by the fact that the payment m?de by the New Zea-. land Dairy Association for butter fat have been and will be likely to continue greater than those made by home-separation companies, while the annoyancs experienced by suppliers under the home-separation system, and particularly the losse9 of butter fat in the skim milk, cause the creamery system to be better appreciated to-day than ever before. At each of the meetings the association's policy was reviewed of paying for butter fat according to the size of the creamery instead of an uniform all-round rate. Figures, fact, and explanations were given, and at large and small creameries alike the present method was almost unanimously approved, there probably not being more than twelve dissentients in the whole of the Upper Waikato. The keenest interest on this subject was evidenced ; ;<t the Tuhikaramea meeting which was composed of suppliers to the Te Ror« and Tuhikaramea creameries. At the conclusion of the explanation and demonstration of the present policy a motion was submitted to the meeting protesting against the action of the general manager, and supporting the demand for a uniform payment at all creameries. On being put to the meeting, however, the resolution was defeated at by a substantial majority.

Very appreciative reference was made at most of the meetings to tne work done for the dairy industry by Mr Wesley Spragg during his long control of the Dairy Association, with which were coupled expre.sisons of regret that the condition of his health made necessary his retirement from the active management of the business, and of gratification that the woul.'l still continue official connection with the association as chairman of directors.

Almost the whole of the meetings were of a particularly cordial character and generally concluded with vnte of congratulation to Mr Pacey on his promotion to the position of genera! manager, and of confidence in his administration. Mr Pacey has expressed the belief that the supply to his company during the next three vearg will show at least as great an increase as during tho three years which have just passed, and that a magnicfient spiirt of cohesion and enterprise is animating each of the districts which he visited save two; also that he looked forward to his association occupying the position of the second largest butter manufacturing concern in the entire world at a very early date. Next week Mr Pacey will commence the meetings of suppliers to his company's creameries in the Lower Waikato district.

HOW HIGH PRICED LAND PAYS

Dairy farmers in other parts of New Zealand when they hear of the high prices offered for lands cn the Waimate Plains, as much as £75 per acre having recently been offered, wonder how it is possible to make a living at such a figure. The experience of Mr T. McPhillips, of the Sutherland road, proves that the money expended in the selection of good cows is money well spent, and thus with systematic farming on these good lands, would make dairying pay, even with land at a high figure, On his 200 acres he milked 120 cows, besides keeping his calves, which he disposed of at eight months for £3 12s 6d. These 120 cows averaged for the season 3.151 bs of butter fat, as tested through the Testing Association. This at the low figure of Is 2d per lb (and it is estimated that Kaupokonui will pay out Is 3d for the bseaso)n, amounts to £lB 7s 6d per cow per annum. It is no wonder, therefore, that on leasing his farm at £3 5s per acre, Mr McPhillips was able to dispose of his whole herd at £ls per cow, and that 24 18 to 20 months heifers from the same herd were disposed of in the open sale ring at Manaia at an avearge price of £ll ss, the best animals realising £ls 15s. —Exchange.