THE GOLDEN COW.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 44, 11 February 1908, Page 2

THE GOLDEN COW.

The number of dairy cows in New Zealand is approximately 000,000. year, besides meeting local demand. Those cows produced tor export 11)4,0011 tons 0 f b lu t, T and nearly 12,001) tons of cheese. The butter realised .C 1,000,441. and the cheese aiiio.ooo-total 1:2 200000. The 1007 gold export for Xcw Zealand was .02.027,000.' The cow is th,. better goldmine. Dairv produce is now third on the list of New Zealand exports. First, and far in advance, comes wool; then frozen meat: then butter and cheese not far behind. And the Tongariros buller shipment raises hopes for tlie dairy industry to the height of record prices (says the Wellington Post). The average export jirice of butter per cwt in lorn; wn- C 4 T,"s 3d: in 1007. C 4 lSs 4H; but the Tonga rim butter, ipioled a I Oi S» on I he l/inoon market in advance of arrival, is reported to have realised CO Ills. Later cables report prices U0 ISs! Probably (he average price o< the cargo was less: but it could not have been much less. CO 10s per ewt equals all but 1- ... per lb, and anything over !ld per lb means money in the bank for the Xe\v Zealand dairyman. Tin- shipment of over 4(,000 boxes is lielieved to lie the heaviest we have ever sent away: and the profit is shared among half-a-dozen districts—with Auckland. New Plymouth, and Wellington leading. The apparent superiority over prices of Danish butter may' have been due to explainable causes, and must i

await confirmation. The news is cheering in this checness time of drought, and it shows the potentiality of the industry. The dairy industry is a small man's industry. Great fortunes are out amassed in it; but the forty thousand families or thereabout* who are employed can all hope to reach a gross income of £-1(10 to ,taUU a year from 50 cows pasturing on from 10U to 150 acres of land. The average cow yields 2001b ot butter yearly, worm at Is'per lb ;ClO. The rest is a profitable addition sum that in now being calculated all over •New Zealand. This country by soil ami climate is especially adapted to' the dairy industry. Many a man in the last dozen years lias embarked upon that industry, and by living frugally and working hard has won his way 10 competence. And many who have succeeded have come to the work from other trades, lacking special knowledge of dairying. In making their own modest fortunes they are making Xew Zealand's lortune as well. We give them honor and congratulation.