THE DAIRY YEAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 May 1919, Page 5

THE DAIRY YEAR.

BUTTEB AND CHEESE TRADE. PROBLEM OF STORAGE. The annual report of the National Dairy Association will presently bo available. It will be read with considerable interest by all directly and indirectly concerned in the dairying industry of the North Island (says the Wellington Post). The association's year with a profit and loss account in credit to the amount of £23,874, an increase on the year 'of £2806. The membership roll now stands at 287; five co-operative companies have been incorporated with adjacent businesses, or as new concerns; 21 new members have enrolled. In the review of the year ended April 30, the past season is described as "the most extraordinary and-erratic experienced throughout tho Dominion; there could hardly be any two opinions on the subject." The vitality of the milking herds was lowered, and mortality among dairy cows reached an unusually high average, and the efficiency ot those which weathered the first few months of spring was seriously impaired. Sunshine was lacking, though pastures were fairly abundant. These remarks apply principally to the dairy centres. HOLDING CHEESE STOCKS.

Referring to the accumulations of produce in store, the report states that from tho beginning of 1919 there has been an improvement in the shipping position so far as dairy produce export is concerned. At the end of April 112,000 boxes of butter and 499,000 crates of cheese were in store. Taking a shipment of cheese at 20,000 crates, it will require 26 steamers to lift, the quantity in store on April 30. Space for boxes, of butter has been allocated, and this will probably close up the season.

In dealing with storage occommodation, the report emphasises the great need for its increase in capacity in view of the experience of this season. "Without cool storage (the report states; the heavy slocks of cheese held throughout the Dominion, consequent upon :the . limited transport available would' have entailed an.enormous loss upon the cheese producers of the Dominion, for the cheese 'could not have been detained in store for from six to eight months withput an appreciable reduction in its value, which would have meant many thousands of pounds to the Dominion, and in some instances total loss. The report suggests enlargement of provision made in Auckland for storage considering the growth Of cheese-making in that district, and, taking into account the great quantity l o/ cheese passing through Wellington, additional storage here is reported as "absolutely essential." The report also refers to the dried milk and other milk products which have materially enhanced the value of butter-fat, and what is being done to obtain more light on the subject, through the Dairying Division of the Department of Agriculture, atid by private enterprise, by sending missions of enquiry to America and elsewhere to obtain first-hand information about milk products other than butter and cheese. THE IMPERIAL PURCHASE. Negotiations with the Imperial Government for the purchase of the exportable surplus of the butter and cheese of the Dominion are reviewed at length in the report. THE YEAR'S EXPORTS. Exports of butter and cheese last year and for 1917-18 were as follow: B „ t 1918-19. 1917-18. Butter, boxes ... 791,803 819,707 Cheese, crates .... 598,7*2 677,790 To Vancouver 27,765 boxes of butter and 2983 boxes were exported.