THE FARMER

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 17 August 1907, Page 6

THE FARMER

THE DAISY INDUSTRY. HIE PKOSI'ECTS OF THE FUTURE. As the dairy is of great importance to the district, and in view of the fact that dairymen are somewhat disturbed by the high prices that have ruled during the past season for cheese, a representative of a Manawatu paper had a chat with Mr R. B. Orange on the condition and prospects of the industry. Mr Grange, being the New Zealand agent for the Hercules refrigerating machinery, is in an admirable position to gain information on the subject, as his vocation not only takes Mm to all parts of the colony but brings him into close touch with dairymen. lu fact, he iias an intimate knowledge of the dairy industry, his experience in New Zealand and Australia extending over a period of fifteen years. Air Grange lias just returned from a visit to Australia, where he had the opportunity of witnessing the new developments in the industry. In New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria he found that rapid strides were being made. In the northern State—Queensland —butter factories arc springing up in all directions, and the exports of butter will show a great expansion during the coming season. On the other hand dairymen in New South Wales and Victoria are going in extensively for cheese-making, the latter State, like Canada, being preeminently adapted for its production and manufacture. A good quality of cheese is being made, and the product is having a ready sale at attractive values. Hut with so many going in for cheese Mr Grange is decidedly of opinion that the supply will, during the coming season, exceed the demand, with the result that there will be a depreciation in values. Quite a number of new factories have already been erected in both New South Wales and Victoria, and this can have only one result—lower prices for cheese.

Turning to New Zealand, Jlr Grange staled that quite a legion of butter factories in this colony had been or were being converted into cheese factories, and he thinks dairymen are making a very great mistake by abandoning but-ter-making. He points out that the fluctuations in the price of cheese are much greater and more frequent than in the price of butter. Eleven or twelve years ago there was a boom in cheese, but values dropped, and about eight years ago it was down to about 4d, whereas last season it was up to 6d. He thinks the maximum price was then reached, and the tendency must be downward, as, he pointed out, the season both Britain and Canada was unfavorable last year, whereas it is more favorable this year and reliable prices point to a greater production. This, together with the increased supplies from the colonies, will have an effect on the Home market. As the price of butter keeps at a much more uniform figure than that of cheese, the risk in producing the former commodity 1s not so great as in the ease of the latter. Then, a drop in price of one penny of Id per pound on cheese from sd. It not so serious as a matter as a drop of Id pre pound on cheese from 3d. Jt was estimated that last year New Zealand exported 2000 tons more cheese than during the previous year, and this year there would be an increase of at least 5000 tons, making a total increase for the two years of 7000 tons. This should be taken Into consideration by those contemplating the installation of expensive cheese-making plants. In view of these facts, Mr Grange thinks there is ample evidence to justify the belief that those dairy fanners who abandon I Hitter-making for cheese will make a mistake which will be impressed upon them by the end of the coming season.