FARM AND DAIRY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 251, 2 March 1911, Page 3

FARM AND DAIRY

A SEASON OF REMARKABLE ANOMALIES. AN UNEQUAL FIGHT. A note on the unsatisfactory position of New Zealand butter on British 'markets which recently appeared in these columns (says the Wellington Times) hi\s led to the expression of newspaper' aiid trade opinion in local and northefri contemporaries, the chief point made being that a "bear" movement is responsible. The root of the trouble has not' b<>en recognised, however. Palpably outcome of the big co-operative scheme of the National Dairy Association, which adopted a method of marketing, which it was thought would revolutionise the disposal at Home of New Zealand but-, ter at one swoop. Producers Are, however, being taught the obvious lesson that they cannot have their own way on British markets, especially when they set out to tight powerful vested interests — to take away without warning a lucrative trade from the strongest dairy produce firms of London. The position is simple. For many years—in fact, from the inception of the factory system of manufacture in this country—several of the most influential firms of London catered to the New Zealand trade, and this in a liberal manner, giving terms to the producers of dairy produce in this country which few other,classes of farmers enjoy. For many years their connection with the trade continued finder the most satisfactory conditions, anil those pioneer firms played no unimportant part in l bringing the New Zealand export butter business to its present gratifying position. Just as the proprietary system of manufacture had to give way to cooperative. ownership, so producers consider it is time they effected further economy by combining to secure the best terms of selling their produce to British retailers. Instead, however, of making the best terms they could ;vith their old agents (who certainly were deserving of consideration considering the good part they had played under existing conditions), they elected to concentrate all their produce into the hands of one firm, and that not among the most important, but a sound agency all the same. It is not reasonable to suppose that the old agents excluded from the new arrangements would sit quietly down and. see a rival handling a vast proportion of New Zealand butter (which they hadj offered to buy from the producer at a good price but could not secure) without making an effort to break up the arrangement, especially when they possessed the means in a safe control of the main avenues of outlet. No doubt the fall in values was due in great part to increased supplies, especially to the early heavy shipments from the Commonwealth, but the success of the ftjibt. of certain London firms to break up Sifej.cooperative arrangement is proved by the record disparity between New Zealand and Danish butter recorded this season. Certainly, last season there was a time when there was a difference of 14s per cwt. between New Zealand and Danish (in the third week of October, I'JO9), but 'it is now ISs.. But the mere figures do not represent the aetual'position, for the quality of Danish huttew-this seaato.is unsatisfactory, while that'fif ours ms never been so good. Not.only has a higher percentage "of high-grade butter been shipped from New Zealand than in past seasons, but the paler color (due to the use of the combined churn and pasteuriser) is more acceptable to British tastes. A set-oil to this is that the N/jw Zealand producer has lost oue'of hfs.' best customers, or at least he does not appeal to a section of the trade support he formerly commandecivilhe makers of margarine and mixtures. These men will not pay as much money fQr fourteen to sixteen per cent, butter as they would for butter containing only ten to twelve per cent, of moisture. However, there is the fact in favor of the "bear" argument that the firm handling the butter of factories subscribing to the National Dairy Association's {yrrangement undertook, as part df."t)ie ; agreement, to reduce the margin between the butter of Denmark and New Zealand, and the reverse has been the case. Evidence, indeed, lias reached this country that firms excluded from the co-opera-tive marketing .scheme are working against it; and local feeling points to this campaign being successful. Faith is not altogether lost in the principle of concentrating supplies and marketing through selected channels from season to season under supervision of a representative of the New Zealand producer on the spot, but it is being realised that the selected channel must be widened to embrace several of the leading firms who have handled New Zealand dairy produce in the past.

EG MONT BOX FACTORY. To give some idea of the large quantity of white pine used in Taranaki in connection with the dairy industry, it is only necessary to refer to the output of the Egmont. Box Factory, which supplies most of the dairy companies in the province with a covering for their butter and cheese for export purposes. However, there are a few companies that still find it convenient to procure boxes and crates from other sources, so that the enormous output of the Box Company docs not represent the entire manufacture of these articles in the province. The following figures for three months will show the activity displayed by the company during the 'height of the season:—November: 38,739 butter boxes, 23,375 crates; December, 30,305 boxes, 22,875 crates; January, 28,70S boxes. 21,350 crates; totals, 103,872 boxes,o7,GOO crates. These .boxes and crates were distributed in Taranaki, and the whole of them have been filled and .sent across the sea, their value being: Butter, at £2 10s per box, £259,07(1; cheese, at £4 per era to, £270,240; or a total of £529,910—a little over half a million of money. Not a bad showing for three months' output. —Stratford Post.

By the method adopted at the Kapong.a <lairy factory of making butter from whey, it is snid that (lie company is making snfßeicnt out of tile new process to pay wages (.says an exchange). What with this ;tmsmess process and the likelihood of selling the casein out of the skim milk for the purpose of making knife handle, mouth-pieces for musical toy.s, etc., which is likely to mean 35s extra per year per cow', farming land will still increase in value. However, the relative feeding value of casein (which is not much) and the likelihood of supplying a cheaper food to take its place in the skim-milk are questions |o l>e considered in assessing the selling value of casein.