THE FARMER

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 24 August 1907, Page 6

THE FARMER

THE DAIRYING INDUSTRY, •ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL PERIODS." THE COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. "From the producers' point of view the season which ended on the 31st .March, 1907, has been one of the most [successful periods experienced since the | inception of the New Zealand dairy industry, so far as the North Island is concerned. The mild winter was followed by a warm and early spring which iproduced a good growth for dairy cattle. The rainfall throughout the summer was i sufficient to maintain a plentiful supply of grass, which resulted in the delivery .of more milk to the butter and cheese I factories."

The above-quoted paragraph is the first item in the introduction to the comprehensive review of the work of the Chief Dairy Commissioner (Mr D. Cudl"iiO du.ing the past year. The Commissioner added that in the South Island the weather conditions were not so favorable as in the North Island, The majority of the "dairy cows commenced the season in better condition than in the previous year, and many of them csime into profit several weeks earlier than usual. A somewhat lengthy spell of dry weather was experienced during the summer, more particularly in the Canterbury and North and Central | Ota go districts.

ABOUT BUTTER. The season opened well as regards both the quantity of butter and cheese manufactured and the high prices offered; in fact, higher prices were paid for the season's output of butter and cheese than ever before. As usual the majority of the dairy companies decided to sell their make of butter from September to the end of Jfyreh, instead of consigning their produce to the Home markets for disposal by their agents at the usual market rates. There was very keen competition amongst the numerous buyers of butter and cheese in the colony, and high prices were reached; but the prices realised by the purchasers for a portion of the butter have been much lower than was expected, and the losses made in this connection will, no doubt, influence forward sales at the beginning of next butter season. The export of butter decreased by 4846cwt, the total quantity graded for export being 309,319%cwt. There was a very large increase during the year in butterproduction in Auckland. Owing to lower prices now. ruling on the British markets, large quantities of buier are being held in the colony, and as the local markets could not absorb any larger quantity than usual it would he necessary to ship some of this produce later on. This ,in the opinion of the Commissioner, was to be regretted, more especially if the butter were stored until the beginning of next season. Past experience had proved that the placing of stored butter on the market had a tendency to reduce prices and to maitain lower values for some considerable time.

INCREASE IX CHEESE. The moat noticeable feature in connection with the year's business had been the remarkable increase in the production of cheesy Nineteen new cheese factories were started during the year, and some of the dairy companies and factory proprietors who were formerly making butter turned their attention to the manufacture of cheese. This movement has been brought about mainly by the high prices ruling, which has enabled the purchaser to obtain from 2d to 3d per pound more for butter-fat in the milk for cheese-makng than for butter-making. The total quantity of cheese exported from the colony for the past year amounted to 173,379cwt, showing an increase of 55,057cw£. over the corresponding period of the previous year.

A FLOURISHING CONDITION. Concluding bis general comments, Mr Caddie writes:—"The dairying industry generally is now in a flourishing condition, and dairy farmers are to be con£Tatnlated on the distinction which the industry has attained as one of the principal commercial mainstavs of the colony, as attested by the fact that the valoe of the butter and cheese exported trom New Zealand for the past year amounted to sterling." 'The number of new registrations for the period just closed was 121; details being Creameries 6, factories (cheese) II), prf rate dairies (butter) 83, private dairies (cheese) 3, and packing-houses 10.