THE DAIRY INDUSTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 May 1917, Page 7

THE DAIRY INDUSTRY.

REVIEW OF THE YEAR. faosEECrs m& tee mjtuee. 'An interesting survey of the dairy industry as it stands to-day is made in the annual report of the National Dairy Association of New Zealand. The report emphasises the growth of the industry, mentioning that the exports of butter and cheese for the year ended March 31, 1817, was valued at £5.«87,et5, while the stores at present contain about 243,000 boxes of butter and 123,000 crates of cheese awaiting shipment. It traces the difficulties that have been created for the industry by the war. "Comparing the present season with Its predecessors," states the report, "the difficulties pertaining to outward and inward shipments have not decreased, but have been accentuated. During the past season from May 1, 1918, to April 80, 191", S3 steamers have taken dairy produce as against 48 for the corresponding period of last season'. The heavy congestion of both butter and cheese at the various grading ports fiwaiting shipment, the difficulty of arranging brands for export per each steamer so that every factory should have a fair proportion of the space available accordinging to their respective requirements, and in view of the continually decreasing insulated space available, Lave added considerably to the work of the office. In this connection the forebearance exercised by all shippers of dairy produce has compensated largely for any additional anxiety and extra work." THE PAST SEASON, The season has been a bad one from Hie dimatic point of view. "W» season opened early, the milkling herds were in fairly good condition, wml two plentiful, and the pastures nlbmniiftni. There was every indication mlttM the North Island was concernjiS for & long and profitable season. Unfortunately, during the first three months of 1017 in consequence of continued dry weather in the southern

dairying districts of the North Island, the conditions were so unfavorable to the pastures that the milk -apply diminished rapidly. The Wairarapa, the coaSt line from Wellington and Palmerston North and Taranaki have suffered severely. Consequently in these portions of the Dominion, notwithstanding the enhanced value of dairy produce, returns will not compare favorably with previous seasons. Diminished quantity with higher prices is not so advantageous to the dairytnan as increased output and fair average prices. On the other hand, the Hawke's Bay and Auckland provinces, which are usually dry in January to March, have had an abundant rainfall and feed has been plentifiul. In this respect the season has been phenomenal and the output probably above normal. During fKe second week in April fine rains were experienced generally in the southern districts, grass has freshened and provided severe frosts hold off. the autumn and "winter .pastures are assured."

OVERSEA TRANSPORT. "The withdrawal of some steamers to meet Imperial requirements, the constant demand throughout the ivrorld for additional tonnage, the losses entailed by submarine warfare, have entailed a heavy toll on the usual transport facilities available to the Dominion under normal conditions, and have ieen severely felt during the year," says the report. "The delay in regular dispatch of cheeße this year has had a serious effect on quality. Whilst the cheese stood Well for several weeks in buildings Hot insulated and the temperature was not controlled, the heat during March wbb too severe for such as had tiecn so treated, and they matured too rapidly. The shortage of shipping has been a serious drawback, but this was inevitable, and it is gratifying to note that with the restriction of tonnage at their disposal the Shipowners' Overseas Committee have invariably given v every assistance in their power to facilitate the shipments of butter and cheese with the limited space they were able to control. "As to future prospects for the coming season, it is difficult to determine 'whether the situation will become easier or more difficult. Cargo steamerg suitable for the New Zealand trade are not rocurable immediately by purchase, neither can we expect under existing circumstances any great increase to the number of the Dominion trading fleet by the addition at short notice of new boats. It is quite within the realm of 'irobabilily that the tonnage position /ill become more unsatisfactory before lit improves."

CHEESE PURCHASE. The report reviews the negotiations that ended in the purchase of the output of cheese by the Government on beh_lf of the. Imperial authorities, and adds:—"Probably some factory directors and suppliers mill consider the sale a tacrifice and that more could have been obtained in the open market, The point to settle is, had the exporter an 'open' marke' 1 Looked at from this standpoint the arrangement was advantageous to the vei.dors, it proved a handsome and as-red return at a remunerative figure, placing the responsibility of arranging transport on the purchaser, and the buyer was benefited inasmuch as it secured an amply supply to meet requirements at a less price than could be obtained by purchasing the same ankle landed in the United Kingdom." The quality of the butter manufactured during the year was high. The report mentions the good work done by the Director and staff of the Dairying Division of the Department of Agriculture, but adds that the flavor of the •butler still falls short of the standard of some years ago. The quality of the cheese improved with the advance of the season. STORAGE SPACE. "The experience of the year." states the report, "demonstrates beyond doubt that more storage room for dairy produce, espe'cially cheese, must be provided if these products are to be handled with the minimum of loss and advantage to the producer. The time has passed when the Dominion, in any case! until a return ito the normal condition of shipping facilities, can rely on rapid transit to cover the defects of a system which should be re-adjustcd to meet altered conditions. To handle this business effectively increased accommodation by way of cool storage is essential. Naturally this will be an addition to present manufacturing or transit charges, but whatever those charges may be it is an absolute necessity that groups of cheese factories must have ample space lor storing perishable articles at coastal

f ports whilst in source of transit and in case of delay to meet extraordinary contingencies. It may, of course, be urged that the conditions of the last three years were abnormal and will be nonrecurring That may ibe true, but the fact remains that existing' provisions aw now even insufficient for normal requirements. It is wiser to ha ve an excess of inch advantages than to experience the annoyance, worry, and loss of restricted conveniences incidental to inadequate space.

FUTURE OP THE INDUSTRY. "No doubt many to-day engaged in the industry have considered and are still considering what effect the present war mill have on dairying when we return to post-war conditions. Will the demand for dairy produce be as great then as now? Will the range of values be as high as those ruling? Will dairying be as payable and prosperous an occupation then as in the past? Probably the main factor in determining the possibilities of the future, lies in the fact that prior-to the war Continental herds were unable to supply the growing demand for beef as a staple article of food. The result of the war is that the herds of the Central Powers, Balkan Btates, and Russia have been depleted. Tt will take some years to restore the balance lost and restock farms j and those Continental countries which have been our competitors in the HJbited Kingdom in the dairy produce trade will be handicapped. There will, after the war, be a stronger demand for beef and dairy produce as articles of fool and the demand for the former will hinder the rapid development of dairy herds. With such a favorable otltlook, if the war ends as we believe it will, then with confidence the dairy farmer can improve and increase ,his herd, feeling assured that dairy produce for some years to come will Ibid a profitable markeb at prices, not perhaps as high as they are to-day, but on a basis thut •will amply reward his industry end toil,"