The Daily News. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER. 30. THE SEASON'S PROSPECTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 30 September 1907, Page 2

The Daily News. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER. 30. THE SEASON'S PROSPECTS.

The directors of the various, co-opera-tive dairy factories in Taranaki, as elsewhere throughout the Dominion, have! lately been considering the all-important j; question of the sale of their output. , Naturally there has been a desire to secure the best price obtainable, and while the butter produce of some factories Ims been sold outright, mostly on a basis of tenpenee farthing to tenpence halfpenny a pound, there has been a tendency to export on open consignment, thus trusting to reap the benefit of any rise on the London market. In some cases the output Ims been disposed of on open consignment, with a guaranteed minimum price. Time will prove which of these methods will secure the better results for the producer. The present price in Loudon for choicest New Zealand butter is practically equal to about elevenpence halfpenny per pound, but there is every indication of an upward tendency, and as the Home and 1 Continental winter season grows nearer uo doubt a substantial rise will take place. On the basis of last year's export of butter from Taranaki a rise of one farthing a pound would mean a return to the producers of a considerable sum, so that those who have shipped on open consignment will watch with keen interest the lluctuations of trie market.

The va-t proportions to which our dairy industry has attained demand that every detail shall receive due attention. There is no doubt that the suppliers are gradually' realising their responsibilities in connection with the purity and quality of the milk taken to the factories, and it i* pleasing to -T-e the test steadily advancing. The outlook for the season is distinctly pro- ! mising. but we cannot too strongly urge every effort being made to wrest the 1 laurels from the Danes, and, if not to surpass them ia favor on the London j market, at least to equal the quotation for their butter. To do so would mean securing nearly a penny a pound more for our produce than at present—a gain to Taranaki alow of about £30,000 a year, while the Dominion would beneiit to the tune of some ,£IO>J,OOO or more. Last season the total output of butter for New Zealand was 2*2,0'.10 tons, of which 12,158 were exported. ' The total value of dairy produce was nearly one million nnd three-quarters sterling, so that with a slightly increased supply, and a nearer approach to top value, this season's produce should reach two millions. Although there will probably he a larger amount of cheese exported this season than was the case last year, tbe natural expansion of the dairy industry should result in the export of an increased quantity of butter. Whether or not the impetus given to the manufacture of cheese will prove a gain is an open question. Aluch depends on the ability of the makers to produce an article that will find favor with the eon'sumers. If cheese equal to the best, English or Canadian can bo turned out the result need not be feared. At present there is much room for improvement in this direction, but there should be no insuperable difiieulty in producing an article that will hp suitable to the Home taste in .spite of the drawbacks attached to the lengthy voyage.

Tli» financial gain to our dairy farmers depends not only on the quality of the Imttcr and cheese exported, but also on the output of competitors in the same trade on the English market. Other factors are regularity of shipment and absence of undue moisture. Competition is beyond control, but the other matters demand the most careful attention. With regard to our nearest rival, Australia, there seems to he every prospect that the surplus dairy products of tile Commonwealth will be small, if any at all. In Siberia rapid strides are being made in dairying and in lower grade produce the competition will be increasingly keen. This should serve as a stimulus to New Zealand to export only the choicest, for which there is always an unlimited demand. Denmark's capacity call now be gnaged to a nicety. It is not a question of quantity so far as Denmark is concerned, but quality. Scientific measures and co-operation have done their work well, as the Danes know to their profit. Canada's vast territory and industry have also to be reckoned with, yet the natural advantages possessed by Xew Zealand, and especially by Taranaki, are mighty factors in the cost of production and profit. Practically we have nothing to fear in catering for the Home market, provided always that every effort is made to ensure the quality of our produce being of the best. The suggestion that has been made to raise the grading points aini3 at attaining a higher standard of butter. Xherc_are some dairymen who decline to accept the verdict of the graders. Possibly in some instances the price obtained does not agree with the grading; but as a. system it has answered well, and will probably do much in the future towards enabling our butter to compete oil even terms with that of Denmark.

All things considered, there appears to be another prosperous season iu view for our dairyman, and we know of 110 class of the community that so much deserves tut era of prosperity. Such an endless round of toil us is entailed in supplying milk to the factories should meet with its reward. Although the inclement weather we are experiencing has cheeked the supply of milk and proved hard on the cattle where there is no shelter we look forward with conlidenee to making up the leeway ere long. Unfortunately in some cases winter feed has been exhausted, but this ,should prove a useful lesson for the future. Dairy farmers cannot. control the weather, but they ought not to jeopardise their stock by shortness of feed at a time when, just after calving, it is so much needed. With higher grade stock, representing greatly enhanced prices, risks should be minimised or the business will not pay. With the best cows obtainable, well cared for, ami provided with shelter not only will the returns be satisfactory, but the quality of the output should result in placing our butter in the premier position 011 the Homo market. Until this is ait accomplished fact dairymen should not be satisfied with their ell'orts.