The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1913 THE DAIRY PRODUCE TRADE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 73, 26 November 1913, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1913 THE DAIRY PRODUCE TRADE.

It is generally admitted that last season the cheese exported from many New Zealand factories was not up to the standard of previous years and the trade suffered accordingly. The High Commissioner (the Hon. Thus. Mackenzie), however, came to the rescue! and arranged a special exhibition in I I ooley Street, the centre of London (colonial dairy produce market. Ae-j (cording to tin* special correspondent,' ot the “Otago Daily Times” this ex-, hihition lias given New Zealand cheese a much-needwd advertisement among tin 1 produce dealers, to whom Mr Mackenzie made a short speech. In explanation of quality last year, he said that to some extent it could he attributed to tin 1 Ia (t that many of the lactories had changed their plant from hntter-making to cheese-making plant, and that tin* conditions had not heen’ entirely perlccted. He did not intend to close his eyes to the tact that some ' ot the older factories that had hither- I to. enjoyed a high reputation had al- * lowed their cheese to fall in finality. 1 He was sure that tin* head of the tie- ( partmeiit, concerned, 'Mr Buddie, and ( his oflicers had done all in their power to keep the makers and suppliers up to. the necessary standard, and in his reports to New Zealand he had not :1

spared those factories whose action had resulted in iiijiuin o the hitherto * well-established reputation o|’ Xew Zealand’s produce in the Knell-di mar- ! ket. Mr Mackenzie then cave a hriel' 1 history of the industry in Xew Zealand, and in conclusion referred to tin* 1 future of the industry. Me said: “As ! it adeem Xew Zealand, then' can he no donht that we can expand our oper- , ations almost indefinitely, and as the, ' years roll on improvements will still, I where possible, he effected. As to the j prospect of prices, provided the hieh j quality of the article is maintained, j there need be no fear for the future. I I find from statistics that the im- r

ports of butt or into this country last year mil by about £d(HJ,UOU sterling. The imports wore valued at £21.001),ODU iu 1 i)I I, ami £2 I AUO.UUU last year. Strange to say, that difference was just the value of the butter New Zealand sent to Vancouver, which is a most promising market. Speaking ot Vancouver brings one to Canada, and although Canada is increasing in the total her manufactured article, her own people consume more in proportion to the increase. As i recently read, it pays better to grow wheat in Canada than to run dairy lactones. It may he argued that wheat will 1,0 grown in increasing quantities. Then there is the reduction in the duty on cheese and butter going into the United States. I think 1 am right in saying that the reduction on butter is from (3 to 1? cents, per pound. This will induce an increased output from Canada for the Tinted States, and will undoubtedly open wider ior our country the doors of markets. Cl iu the dairy industry recognise that, that we have rivals in the field. Margarine is one of them, and it is well to acknowledge that margarine is a foodstuff that has come to stay. Hut while those of us who are interested in the dairy industry recognise that we feel that hath in the interests of the consumer and the producer of butter, margarine should not be used abutter—that is to say. the grocer

should not sell margarine as butter, nor should the hotel or lodging-house keeper give margarine to their customers as butter. A glance at The prosecutions which have recently been instituted show that this is done to a considerable extent, and it must be very profitable, inasmuch as you see that the same persons have been fined upon two or more occasions. We are about to hold a conference in connection with this matter. Butter-blend-ing is an industry which has come to stay and is legitimate. New Zealand is not suffering much either from the margarine or the butter-blending business, because our output, being firstclass the margarine does not displace it, and it is bought up at a good price to season up second-class butters. I am in hope that with the greater development of our industry our farmers may lie able to arrange for continuous supplies all the year round, and it that he done, then we shall be able to dispose of the output here under its true designation, and therefore enjoy an increased reputation in consequence But so long as we only send our butter here during certain months of the year,l recognise that ft is impossible for dealers to keep their customers all the year round if they change the brand nr standard of the butter, one therefore this blending has had to be adopted to a certain extent to provide an article to suit the tastes of tin various consumers whom the dealers supply during the year.”