The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 1902. OUR DAIRY INDUSTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue 9, 2 April 1902, Page 2

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 1902. OUR DAIRY INDUSTRY.

There are still those who consider the dairy indastry would be better for less of what they term interference on the pirt of the Government. In most cases it will be found on investigation that thsse are connected direcdy or indirectly with the middleman who has not the free hand, under Government inspection, that he would like. The latest testimocy to the value of the New Zealand system conws from Sydney, where at tbe Dairy Farmers.' Conference, Mr. O'Callaghan, Government Dairy Expert, read a paper deali»g with Government supervision of dairy produce exports. After reviewing the European and Canadian systems, he said:-" If we look at tinmethods adopted by the New Zealand Government towards developing and controlling the dairying industry, we find a better basis of comparison of what might be done in New South Wales.' New Zealand evidently framed t 1 e Dairy Aet witk a view to governing the industry from the manufacturers' as well as from the health point of view. We can take it for granted that their severe system of grading has in no way interfered with the development of the indastry. Otherwise, we would not have seen such a wonderful increase of exports, On the other hand, what reports we have received from British merchants have all been in favour of tha New Zealand system. There is bo doubb wbatover thit the New Zealand system of inspection and grading has brought about a marked and considerable improvement in the quality of their dairy products. It is believed if New South Wales had a similar system, much good would result." As a proof that the Now South Wales dairying industry is developing very rapidly, it was stated that 41,479,000 pounds of butter were manufactured during the year ended March, 1901, as against 33,033,000 pounds for the previous year. The expert did, not think there bad been the improvement in the quality of the New South Wales produce which was desirable. It ig clear from the foregoing that if facilities are forthcoming to enable New Zealand dairy produce to bo placed on the market on eqaal terms, its'm»rit will command attention and secure trade. There are those who favour New Zealand doing trade through Australia. This, in our opinion, is a mistake. What we want to do is to take advantage of the direct steamers, bow being put on between New Zealand and the Cape, to develop trade there oa sound and diract lines. That this is possible appears to be tbe opinion of Mr J. W. Chapman, well known in Wellington, at one time connected with the wool and skin trade. He has written to Mr W. H. Field, M.H.R., giving an account of his experiences in South Africa since he went there, six mouths ago. He states, writing from Graaf Reinet, that he has travelled some thousands of miles investigating the country, and has spent some time in looking over several farms. " I can see," writes Mr Chapman, " that farming out here is very different from farming in New Zealand. The climate is much warmer, and verj much drier. The country is remarkably clear of stock; and it "will be necessary to stock the lands considerably before any quantity can be placed upon the market fer sale." Mr Chapman hops* to return to New Zealand shortly, in order to open up a business between New Zealand and South Africa. Upon this subject h ■ writes:—"There is trade here for som i of our products, and some commercial men are remarkably sanguine as to the results if business should ha established on a sound footing. ... I took some interest in showing the samples Mr Gow brought here, and visitors generally expressed their surprise that New Zealand could turn out goods c" such quality. Little is dune here U> push our New Zealand products. Australia is pegging away and getting is with its gcods ; and if time is not lost by the New Zealanders, some of the enormous profits being made here should be scattered as far as New Zealand."