CHEESE v. BUTTER.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 28, 2 June 1915, Page 2

CHEESE v. BUTTER.

[To The Editob Stratford Post.] Sir,— In reference to the above subject I notice the late cables from Home ■ 'have been pleasant news for the 'farmers who are supplying a cheese factory, the said news being "cheese 100 s," Notwithstanding the pseudopi.r experts who are going about the country saying how they can make 5d per lb on on the butter-i'at they supply to the factory, lor pifp, I maintain that all farmers supplying a butter factory at the present time are (heavy losers this past season, and {with every appearance of a "ditto reIpeato" for the coming season. It would be very interesting if some 'gentleman supplying a cheese factory Iwould give us his returns, viz. for milk, pigs, and calves. Through the medium of your valuable journal, for purposes of comparison, 1 am sure it iwould make doleful reading for the butter man. Referring to pigs: Are there two 'men alike in their estimate of the lvalue of skim milk? it ranges from |d per gallon to Id per gallon. It 'must always be remembered that cheese has' not the dread competitor i.Margarine to contend with, nor has (it every dairying country in the world to contend with. Australia which is a formidable competitor in tlie butter market, is hardly worth noticing as a competitor in the cheese .market, while our principal competitor in the cheese market (Canada) has 'reduced her exports of cheese over fifty per cent, since 1905, the actual figures being lor L 905, 92, 308 tons, while for 1914, she only sent 60,76;? tens. Kltham and Hawera have set 'a good example by making the cheese jat the creameries, and then sending it along to the factory curing room, I the expense in nominal, and the results absolutely successful. j It is passing strange that there ■ ..•(. ,-•. Imtter factories south ol Stratford. The progressive people in tii.-M' districts can afford to pay up to £**'! \)<~i ''ere for their land and ih mi semi lli'e'r milk to a cheese facto:--. Tie last ten vers' average of Hie Lot-don vim- of Vpw Zealand cheese is 61s Md, near enough to 625, this is quite equal to say Is per prntnd for hotter. hut has butter iaveraged Is per lb London value for the last ten years? There seems to lie a good opening now for private 'enterprise to come to the assistance of those farmers who would like to lie supplying a cheese factory (and they are legion) by erecting a plant between Midhirst ami Stratford for the coming season. Thanking you in anticipation, f am. eac, , A. H. RICHMOND. P.S.—l am indebted to Mr Gveville, the editor ofthe"Xew Zealand Dairyman," for the above figures. Mr Greville has just returned from a trip to England, and is quite enthusiastic aw roo-ards the outlook for cheese. — A.H.R.