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Matamata Record, Volume VI, Issue 349, 26 February 1923, Page 4

A large number of the (lecjk rams were again bought for the North Island, the buyers being Messrs, F. C. Baker, North Auckland; C. Jury, Wafrarapa; Ray Sutherland. Wanganui; 11. Groves, Masterton; W. Dairy, Wanganui; K. Hammond, Wanganui; and Dalgely and Co. Local competition was very, keen and the prices were maintained right through. The top price for flock rams was IBgns. As already stated the sale was a most successful one, the total received being £5445. This was an increase over last year of £ISOO. The average orice for the heifers is a record for all breeds for New Zealand.

OUR DAIRY INDUSTRY. ITS PHENOMENAL DEVELOPMENT. PRAISE FOR WAIKATO. Dairy farmers concerned about the dairy industry in New Zealand may take heart of grace from information . given by Mr. J. A. Ruddick, dairy j commissioner for Canada, who is at present in this country. He is accompanied by Mr. W. A, : . Wilson, general manager of. the Saskatchewan Co-operative Creameries, Ltd., and while these visitors were in Hamilton they wei'e conducted over a number of factories of the New Zealand Co-op. Dairy Co., Ltd., and given full information as to the company's growth anil activities. Mr. Ruddick, in the course oT a brief interview, expressed his astonishment at the wonderful growth or the industry since he was in this coimirv as head of the dairy division in the years 1890 to 1900. In the 23 years that have elapsed since that time, the New Zealand industry has become completely changed, particularly in the Waikato. The growth in this area absolutely astonished Mr. Ruddick. In 1900 the output of butter was approximately 1000 tons, but to-day the New Zealand Co-on. Dairy Co., Ltd.. will produce this veor nearly 22,000 lons of butter. Comparing the position of the industry in Canada with New Zealand. Mr. Ruddick said (hat New Zealand bad advanced far bovond Canada in Mie development of bi> factories. The l«rfo«t individual buffer factory in Canada would have an annual output of "limit 500 tons, so <})■>' thev hurt no*' l '' l "' +(i eomnare with <h<i hi'tr conf<••.>;,„,! ■TYuiJovSps of *ho N-nv Zealand To •>» Dni.-v Co. ■><''. with their anTiiiyil milnuf.. of JWW to 2KOO lons. Tn ''• >iad'' lb n Daiwill"' irwlnstrv at i.i-c ;..»' wo.s 1-irovlr ,a side-line lo nn\ iv«l i'nrmi>v>\ «a'<l> Hie n.yeput'O'" ,•,'' r-oi'li>m siw.fhl fl ; <d"w'|s whore novflHi 1,-i.l fivnnwwl Hm riprnlnmv'oi^ of Hip dairviniv indnstvy. Thev had ■noOii'-"- to copiparo with the intensive dnivvij"* aetivit.v of the Waikato. Mr. Wilson, who is manager of the biirgest co-operative company in Canada, stated that the recent slump had put dairying more in the limelight as a number of wheat farmers were putting on from 10 to 12 cows for the sake of the ready return given for milk. His company had 1(5.000 suppliers, but the total manufacture was only 2000 tons, this fact indicating the difference between the economic development of that country and New Zealand.

Grading had been in force for 10 or 12 years past, and be was fully satisfied that it was the keynote of success in dairying. From April 1 of this year the Federal Government was establishing grading of all export produce sent out of Canada, and it was considered that this policy would effect a vast improvement in the standard of the country's produce. If the Western provinces took > up dairying in earnest the possibilities for expansion were enormous, but on the whole the. conditions for dairying were not nearly so favourable as those for New Zealand. After his inspection of half-a-dozen of the company's Mr. Ruddick expressed his surprise at the standard of development attained, and particularly wished to compliment the factory managers upon the high technical skill attained by them. The factories he had seen were vcry> well designed, and what impressed him most was the fact that they hart been built big to start with, and provide for expansion instead of, like most big factories, being built on , piecemeal, from time to time. This was aipolicy that struck him as being a very economical proposition, and one in which he was highly in favour. The churns used here were approximately three times the size, of the churns used in Canada, and the United States, and to that extent the industry here was more intensified and in a higher state of development than in the ordinary districts throughout those countries. ; Mr. Ruddick and Mr. Wilson are making a flying trip through New Zealand and have a schedule which will carry them to every important dairying district prior to their departure' to Australia on March 5. After four, weeks in Australia they are returning to Canada.