HOWIE SEPARATION DEFENDED

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8352, 12 February 1913, Page 2

HOWIE SEPARATION DEFENDED

THE ECONOMIC POSITION. VIEWS OF A PRODUCER. Discussions on the merits and other-, wise of homo separation of cream are; being widely indulged in throughout tna outtcr-makiug centres of the Dominion. On the one hand, it is urged that treatment of mtik by separators on tho farm will so altoct tho quality of tho butter that lower prices will prevail on the English market, and an advantage will bo given to Now Zealand’s competitors, in a recent article on this question it was pointed out that under the prevailing system ot Citato instruction, grading, and inspection tho producers' interests and tho quality of exported butter are so safeguarded that there is no possibility of an inferior article going abroad or even being produced in any quantity for any length of time. A TARANAKI OPINION. Another aspect of the position has been expounded by Mr E. Griffiths, one of tho best-known Taranaki dairymen, who, in a well-reasoned letter to the local press, shows how jhomo separation enters into tho economy of the farm and factory. After reviewing the growth of tho homo separation movement and the question of quality, Mr Griffiths goes on to illustrate, by tho use of figures, where savings in manufacture may be effected to the advantage of farmers. SAVING FACTORY EXPENSES. According to his estimate the cost of running tho average creamery amounts to anything from Ifd upwards per lb of butter-fat, and iu cases where tho companies have more than one creamery, the cost of separating all the milk received by the company may safely be put down at a minimum of Id per lb of butter-fat. In other words, lif the cream from all farms were delivered at either the factory or the 'creamery, the suppliers would receive ■at least Id per lb of butter-fat more ithan they are now getting. Until all the suppliers do start separating at home, this penny will not bo saved. Ho predicts that in a very few years the creamery will be a thing of the past. With a view of encouraging homo separation and assisting those farmers who separate their milk at home, thus saving the cost to the factory, several dairy companies in New Zealand pay the supplier who delivers his cream a, Jd per lb of butter-fat more than those who bring their milk, because the latter put the company to the expense of separating as well as handling the skim milk. ADVANTAGES SUMMARISED. After dealing with the great saving in wear and tear in the delivery ot ■nilk daily and the advantages of fresh, warm, and pure milk for the feeding of aalves and pigs, Mr Griffiths makes the following summary of the advantages of homo separation: That butter will bo equal in quality; that a farmer will nett lid per lb for his butter-fat where .is now netts lOd, or Kid where he now netts Is; instead of tho two hours which aro now wasted by taking milk to the factory, the milk can all bo separated oy a boy in half an hour; tho horse, instead of going to tho factory, can bo working on tho farm, calves and pigs aro healthier, and considerably less outlay would he required in the dairy factories, because separators, milk vats and other machinery would not ho required. Farmers are daily learning from their neighbours the benefits of homo separation and aro rapidly falling in to the now run of things, but there is a very great majority who do not understand tho position, and many are of the opinion that the directors of the factories, for some unexplainable reason, are not agreeable to take cream which has been homo separated, whereas tbero is hardly a case where this opposition exists. Put in a nutshell, it moans that for every £IOO,OOO worth of butter that is manufactured in Taranaki, £IO,OOO is being thrown away, and this extra £10,001) in the pockets of the farmers would buy many improvements and comforts.