HOME SEPARATION.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 511, 23 October 1912, Page 5

HOME SEPARATION.

A THRIVING INDUSTRY. WAIKATO CO-OPERATIVE DAIRY CO. COMPANYS' EXPERT INTERVIEWED. Mr L. Frost, dairy expert to the Waikato Co-operative Dairy Company, arrived at Te Kuiti yesterday and intends spending some time in the district. During the coarse of an interview with a Chronicle representative, Mr Frost talked interestingly of the dairying industry generally. Questioned as to his mission, and aB to his opinion of the district, he said he was looking up suppliers to his company, and incidentally intending suppliers, and was giving what information might be required or of assistance to dairymen under homeseparation conditions. "You are a believer in home-separa-tion, then, Mr Frost?" Emphatically, yes. The future of home-separation is the future of dairying. Years ago there were probably well grounded objections to the home-Beparation system in consequence of the article provided under the system not being up to the standard. It was feared the export of home-separated butter would spoil the reputation of New Zealand butter on the Home market. Now, however, owing to the adoption of modern methods and machinery, a first-class article, quite as good as any creamery butter, is produced. In reply to a question as to the chief advantages of home-separation over the creamery system, Mr Frost said the carting of milk to the creamery was avoided, and this alone, was a big item, doing away with a horse team and driver, and reducing the traffic to one-tenth. The rearing of calves was also of great importance, and it was recognised that under the home-separation system the calves reared were a long way ahead of those reared under the creamery system. When it was remembered that in order to get a good herd together the farmer had to rear hi-* own stock this was a highly important factor. Then, again, the cost of production was lessened enormously. The expense of running creameries was approximately £1 per cow per annum, and the abolition of the creamery, and the centralising of the labour of production resulted in a tremendouß saving.

With respect to his own company's business, Mr Frost said the experience of the company fully warranted the opinion in favour of home-separa-tion. The September output this year showed an increase of 75 per cent, over that of last year. The company's output this season should be a least a thousand tons of butter. Last year it was over seven hundred tons. These results indicated clearly the confidence which had been established between the farmers and the company.

"That is our motto," said Mr Frost," "and that we have succeeded is shown by the success of the company."

Both the company's factories (Hamilton and Mercer), have been overhauled and are capable of turning out 500 tons each. It is intended to transfer the Hamilton factory to Frankton in readiness for next season, as the position is more central, and the move should result in a further reduction of expenses. It is confidently estimated that this year the working expenses of the company will be reduced by a Jd to Ad per lb butter fat. As indicating the wide area from which suppliea for the company are drawn, Mr Frost said the suppliers came from as far as Owhango in the King Country on the one side and from Auckland on the other side. They had a very large connection in Waikato, extending to Te Aroha and Putaruru and also in the Waipa district. The business was continually increasing and the circle widening. "That is one of the advantages of home separation," said Mr Frost. "The supplier can readily send a long distance in order to reach the very best market."

The company had a very extensive local trade, and in Auckland, where they supplied to th 9 householder direct, they had no less than five vans in commission.

In response to a query as to the prospects of the present season, Mr Frost expressed himself optimistically. Unless a big drop in prices occurred in the London market the company expected to pay out a shilling per lb butter fat to suppliers throughout the season, with a bonus at the end of the season. This should bring the total price per lb up to 12|d which, from the suppliers' standpoint, was an extremely satisfactory state of affairs. The increase in the company's business enabled them to extend more than ordinarily favourable terms to their suppliers. It was a well established business axiom that increased business meant cutting down the working expenses proportionately, and the suppliers were getting the benefit.

With respect to the Vancouver market, from which a good deal was expected by some people, Mr Frost said he did not think it would have any material effect on the industry further than absorbing a certain proportion of the increasing annual output. The Vancouver market would always be governed by London, and his company was dealing direct with London, although they had received a tempting offer from Vancouver.

Mr Frost is staying at the Hotel Grande., Te Kuiti, and letters sent to that address will be attended to promptly. Any suppliers desirous of interviewing him are requested to call at that address.*