FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 356, 6 April 1910, Page 7

FARM AND DAIRY.

MOISTURE IX BUTTER. MR. CUDDLE'S REPORT. j A report just issued by the Dairy Commissioner, ,\lr. D. Cuddie, gives agreeable assurances that the buttermaking industry of New Zealand has come out of the trouble which "waterlogging" threatened much better than •was expected (say:, the Uawcra Star). It will be remembered that when the moisture content was increased therts j simultaneously occurred something of a j slump in the'price of Xew Zealand but- ' ter, which importers said was nae to ■ the fact that our product had become ; less valuable to the ••blenders'' at Home. Whether the fall in price was due to the refusal of the fakirs to buy, or was merely coincidental with the increase in the moisture, could not be determined. Xeitlier can it now be said whether or not th« merchants are now buying at a higher price what the blenders formerly secured. But. the gratifying fact remains that this Dominion's butter has recovered and maintains its value, notwithstanding that the water content has increased from 11.70 per cent in 11)06-07, to 13.05 per cent, for the past season. The legal limit (the standard also adopted by Great Britain, Denmark, Holland, Canada and Australia) is 10 per cent. "Strictly speaking,'' jays Mr. Cuddie, "the Department cannot' interfere so long as the butter for export does not contain mora than 16 per cent. , of water, and it is not illegal to sell butter oil the local market above this limit, although I think it should be. The Dairy Division has constantly recommended the factories to make butter for export with not more than 12 to 13 per cent, of moisture, and I am glad to be able to say that the majority of dairy companies have adhered to this principle." I Mr. Cuddie adds: ''lt may be remembered, however, that other countries have been steadily increasing the-mois-ture in their butter, and statistics show, for example, that in the United States it has increased 2 per cent, 'during the last six years, while in Xejv Zealand the increase has been less than 1% per cent, in seven years. Within the last two years the attention of thw dairy people has been drawn to the fact that Xew Zealand butter contained too little moisture, and that the farmers were losing thousands of pounds annually through not incorporating a. little more moisture I in their butter. This has been strongly I opposed by me on every occasion, both from the platform and by means of our annual reports, etc., because I was afraid that if the, moisture limit in our butter were increased, some of the factories would probably carry the process beyond the border line." The Commissioner observes that the combined churn was largely responsible for the greater water content, out lie proceeds to a (firm that the price has not been detrimentally ali'ected by the moisture increase. He says: "It. must be remembered that the same price has been paid during tile past season for butter containing 13 per tent, of moisture as that which contained only 10 per cent., therefore it is only natural that the various dairy companies should endeavor to work up to as near the moisture standard as is consistent with sate'iy. This is actually what has taken place, and consequently some of the buyers who purchased the butter discovered after it reached London that it contained more moisture than the same ■brands originally contained; and when the produce was placed in the hands ol the blenders, they found that less profit could he made in handling it, and this has no doubt given rise to some of the complaints received from Loudon. It i* well known that the market was against the buyers oi Xew Zealand butters during last season, and many of them lost heavily owing to the fall in prices. Past experience has proved that when such is the case numerous complaints have been »i»de against the quality. British importers, having been informed of the controversy going on in Xew Zealand in regard to the moisture question, navs naturally attributed any defects to this cause, whereas butter known to hart contained moisture above the average opened up in London in sound condition."

But to the general charge of waterlogging Mr. Cuddie gives a most emphatic denial. His department made continued efforts to obtain a sample containing moisture above the legal standard, and it was only after two mouths' search that one such sample was secured, and this case it has been found was due to accidental circumstances. Further, although strict supervision is exercised by the Customs authorities in Great Britain not a single prosecution was instituted during last season, which says a good deal, considering that 14,336 tons of butter was shipped to that market. Concerning comparative prices Mr. Cuddie observes: "It has been argued that the value of >iew Zealand hutter has depreciated to the level of that of Australian, but I would point out that this is not the case, as the following figures from the Hijjh Commissioner's cable for the last five weeks will show:— Xew Zealand. Australia!) Per cwt. Per cwt. June 5 103s 98s June 12 105s 100s June 19 1011s 100s June 26 IOUs 100s July 3 100s 100s

"It ,hfw always been recognised that if Xovr Zealand butter sold from 2s to 4s per cwt. higher than that of Australia, we were doing fairly well, whereas these figures prove that Xew Zealand butter is now selling for 5s to ()s more tkan Australian." By way of eonelusion the Commissioner says: "The only effective way of preventing an excess of moiiture in' New Zealand butter over 18 per cent, would be for the Government to tal:e action in every <-ase, as from the beginning of next season, wliich opens in a few 'weeks' time, and T am satisfied that if one or two of the offenders were il>-nlt with, there would be no further cause for complaint."