PROSPECTS OF FARMING INDUSTRY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1845, 27 June 1918, Page 2

PROSPECTS OF FARMING INDUSTRY.

THE post's Auckland correspondent telegraphs'“Commenting on the prospects of the farming industry, .Mr. J. ■ Brodie, president of the Auckland Farmers’ Union, stated in an" interview that considerable uncertainty existed among dairy farmers regarding the future of the industry, as a result of the growing popularity of dried milk. The dried milk business was carried on extensively in the United States, and a short time ago the Waikato, Cambridge, and Thames Valley Dairy Companies sent representatives to, America, to investigate and report on the suitability of the industry to New Zealand conditions. Mr Brodie said he had received some information concerning prices realised in America by dairymen. The prices paid by proprietary concerns engaged in the dried milk industry in many cases ranged from 3s to 3s 6d per lb. of butter-fat, while in one instance considerably more than this had been paid for supplies. One result of the investigations of the New Zealand delegates in America was the decision of Cambridge Dairy Company to erect two dried milk factories, and he understood other companies would follow suit. The dried milk business was widely discussed by dairymen at the recent Palmerston North Show, and the popular opinion was that, providing a stable market for the commodity could be maintained at prices equal to the present rates, it was safe to say the dairying industry was entering on a new chapter of its existence. In reply to a question as to how the growth of the new industry in New Zealand would affect butter and cheese markets, Mr Brodie said the cheese output would be more seriously (.affected than butter production, as the manufacture of butter was carried on in connection with the dried milk industry, only a percentage of but-ter-fat being retained in the prepared milk.”