FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 March 1919, Page 7

FARM AND DAIRY.

NEWS AND NOTES. At a largely attended meeting recently at Waharoa the plans which provide for a three-seoried building, iron, wood and brick, for the Milk Foods' Ltd., factory at Waharoa were sanctioned, and tenders will be called for at an early date. After Mr W. Goodfellow had addressed the meeting, the following provisional directors were appointed:— Messrs J. Clothier (Matamata), R. Tuck and J. E. Barker (Woodville.) The Hamilton Chamber of Commerce has been notified that tlie Government of the United States proposes to grant licenses for the importation of New Zealand hemp without limit to quantity; also that the prohibitions against tile importation of tallow, hides and skins have been withdrawn. A meeting to discuss proposals to borrow money for roading purposes was held at Te Kowhai on Saturday. Mr S. Fitllerton, president of the Te Kowhai Farmers' Club, presided, and Messrs R. F. Bollard and J. A. Young, M.P.'s, were present. The chairman explained that as a dried milk factory was soon to be erected at Te Kowhai they felt they should have good roads to facilitate the delivery of milk at the factory. As there was more traffic on the side road, it was proposed that the Newcastle Road Board shoiild borrow £20,000 and the Waipa County Council, which controls the main road, £IO,OOO. They hoped to get a £ for £ subsidy from the Government, and they wanted the assistance of Messrs Bollard and Young in obtaining the subsidy and arranging for the loan. At a recent meeting of the Hamilton branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union the chairman brought up the question of seedy wool and claimed that the growers had not received fair treatment. He also expressed dissatisfaction witli the position regarding the purchase of meat by the Imperial Government. From the time the meat was purchased the grower had not been consulted, although the period had been extended to June, 1920. The issuing of a license to export meat would have the advantage of about eighteen months to get re-es-tablished on tlie Home markets. The chairman threatened to leave the union unless the Farmers' Union executive did more to safeguard the farmers' interests. A very satisfactory test of several varieties of motor tractors %vas made by borough workmen at Frankton recently, in the presence of the Mayor and several councillors. Some good work was done in clearing the roads, and those present expressed the opinion that motor tractors attached to graders and other machines for' road, work are the coming method for this class of work, cessors in the geese that, throughout I EGGS BY WEIGHT. I

Can eggs be bought by weight? A correspondent of the Times affirms that they can, and adds:—"For many years I was president of a large co-operative egg society in Contny Westmeath, and during my presjdencey all eggs were sold by weight. We graded tliein on a Lyons graded table, and sold them by the long hundred, as lo's and lG's, meaning that the long hundred weighed either 151b or 101b. Any eggs under 151b were sold as "eggs'" to confectioners and various other traders at a lower price than the graded egg?. We packed them on the Danish system, and sold them to all parts of the United Kingdom. Ours was one of the many societies brought into being by the Irish Agricultural Organisation Society, which has done such invaluable work for the agricultural community of Ireland." CASEIN PROSPECTS. The prospects for the manufacture of casein, which was increasing in some districts, was fairly bright. Before the war the only market for casein was in Germany, but (here was now a market in Britain. The price varied, but it was now about £7(l per ton, and tended to advance, because new uses were being found for casein. The Department had A specially-equipped officer to assist the casein industry. Before the war sugar of milk was sellat £sl) to £GO per ton, but during the war it had risen to more than £2OO, and even up to £3OO. Production would pay now at £SO a ton. H would cost about £3OOO to put down a minimum plant. A representative of the Department was to leave for Canada in April to obtain information on this subject and other matters of interest to dairy farmers. The manufacture of rennet should be practicable in New Zealand. Tlie country used about 30,000 gallons of rennet a year. This was bought for 5s per gallon before the war, but the price rose to 50s per gallon during the war.

DRIED MILK. Testifying at the Industries Commission/Mr Cuddie said lie believed the dried milk industry had come to stay, but dairy farmers should make sure of a market before they rushed into this business. He did not think the dried milk industry would extend through all districts. He doubted whether the price would fall rapidly, for the number of cattle, had been greatly reduced. The process of manufacture was intricate. There was supposed to be "trade secrets."

To Mr Wilkinson: Considering the difference in climatic conditions during tlie winter Hie average buter-fal production in New Zealand should be greater than iu Denmark.

The committee which was set up in connection with the dried tnilk factory in Taupiri, has received word that the scheme will he put into operation at once. A condenser station is to be erected at Taupiri, also at Te Awamutu, Morrinsville, and Te Kowhai. The resultant product will be sent to the central factory at Frankton, wheve by a jew process of spraying, the finished dried milk will be turned out. It is stated that the price of 3s per lb on a (lutter-fat basis will be paid, from which fid will be retained towards the cost of erecting the plants.