NATIONAL DAIRY ASSOCIATION

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9152, 22 May 1908, Page 7

NATIONAL DAIRY ASSOCIATION

-SOUTH ISLAND ANNUAL REPORT. Press-Association, Dunedin, May 20. The annual report of the National "Dairy Association of New Zealand (South Island) states that the exports of cheese from the Dominion in 1907 were 8597 tons, and the exports of butter 14,852 tons. Tha.report goes on to say that the past history of our dairy export trade should encourage us to in'Crease it without any hesitation, for we have a very long way to go in New Zealand before we overtake what has proved to be the ever'increasing demand for farther supplies to the British market. The "butter factories which consigned this'year have done remarkably well. The cheese outputs were mostly consigned, and only a few sold at from -6%d. Consignors of cheese will ‘not do quite as well as the few who sold last jear. The position in this respect was all in favour of the con■signors. It is evident that New Zea 7 land batter stands well as to quality on the market, as it continues to hold first place, and is readily sold •at 2s to 4s per cwt over Australian, and, during the season, it has been frequently sold at the same- price as Danish. The quality of our cheese is not so favourably reported on generally as our butter. Doubtless the market has been less buoyant, and rather against forward buyers, and so complaints are more general, but there is no dbubt there has been room for complaint in many cases. Very much of the fault complained of is due to shipping cheese too green, and worse still in casing it too green ; also, of course, to inferior milk supplied to factories. With care and attention there is no reason why New Zealand cheese "should not at least equal Canadian, and this is one of the many things that it behoves suppliers and factory men to bring abont. It is a matter within their power, and in theirs only. Year after year it is more apparent that the export shipping season will have to be extended. We used only to export up to the end of March, but the increase in supplies both of butter and of cheese made in April and May--now are far beyond what the local market can absorb for winter use till the new season opens. Already in Otago and Southland, as well as in from the North Island, we are shipping April-May makes of cheese in fairly large quantities,‘’and much of this cheese shows the effect of turnip feeding most distinctly, and the landing of .such cheese on the London market must be harmful to them and to the New Zealand cheese export trade. Generally, the sooner the factories decide to refuse turuipy milk for cheese-makius the better. Dairy farmers should at once set about finding winter feed for dairy cows other than turnips The revenue of the Association now just covers the modest yearly expenditure. The debit balance of last year has been wiped out by the liberality of some factories, who subscribed the amount as donations.