THE DAIRY YEAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 June 1920, Page 9

THE DAIRY YEAR.

IMPORTANCE OF MILK. NATIONAL DAIRY ASSOCIATION. The growing importance of the dairying industry to the Dominion is revealed in the 26th annual report of the National Dairy Association. This well-compiled and authoritative review of the dairying position in New Zealand shows that the exports for the year ended 30th April last amounted to 1,040,531 crates of cheese and 542,278 boxes of butter. Taking the cheese at £7 per crate, and the butter at £4 10= per box—conservative prices—the export would total £7,283,217 for cheebo and £2,368,351 for butter, or £9,663,968. This does not include the value of other milk products exported, such as powdered milk, casein, and sugar of milk, and it takes no account of the local market, which is equal to 10,000 tons per annum, or 400,000 boxes of Tmtter, and an unestimated consumption of chpese. The production, i.e., the quantity of butter and cheese passing through the grading stores for the 10 months ended May 31st, was 1,229,560 cwts cheese--1,094,853 cwts for the corresponding period of 1919; and 377,903 cwts of butter—292,s27 cwts for 1919. The production of both cheese and butter this year, as the figures show, is substantially in advance of that of last year. The National Dairy Association doss not regard 1919-20 as a good year for production. It states: "Although no district throughout the North Island lias suffered from severe drought, except, probably, on the East Coast, the early part of the season was not favorable t> milk production. The winter was" not, severe, £nd stock did fairly well. Strong and biting winds from the north prevailed in the spring, and, although rain was plentiful, the' grass was w/thered uj to the end of December, when an improvement took place, and probably the autumn growth of grass was "one of the best experienced in the Dominion for some years past." The season on the whole has been exceptionally good in the Auckland district, where dairying ha»

developed of late years in greater proportion than any other portion of the Dominion. The report further states: "There was not much fault to be found during the last season with the quality of butter and cheese manufactured, as compared with previous years. . . The general adoption of pasteurisation of milk by cheese factories has had a distinct effect on the article now being manufactured. It has been proved without doubt that the keeping quality of cheese, due to pasteurising, has been much improved." Reference is made to other milk products, and the enquiries into them in the United States, Denmark, Holland, and the United Kingdom, by Mr. W. Dempster, for the Department of Agriculture, and Messrs Forsyth, Murdoch, and T. C. Brash, of the National Dairy Association. The reference concludes: "Indications are not wanting to prove that dairy companies are now inclined for the present, under existing conditions, to hold on to what they are doing rather than attempt something they know not of." After reviewing the arrangement* made between butter and cheese producers affa the Imperial Government, the report states: "From reliable information received the Imperial authorities have decided to fix maximum retail prices for butter and cheese. The said prices are to be respectively 3s and Is 8d per pound. This will mean a limited free market." The shipper will receive a value equal to the amount left when there is deducted, from 3s per pound the cost of ocean freights, marine insurance, dock and landing charges, and the cost of distribution through the wholesale agents and retailers. This will in the case of butter, a net result of -2s 3d to 2s 4d per pound, and in regard to cheese from Is 2d to Is 3d per pound. Much, of course, will depend on the cost of distribution, and including the profit, to the retailer. The report strongly recommends cooperative marketing. It is asked: "la it essential to success tiiat others should be asked to do for us what we can do for ourselves? . . . Let all-men who hold positions of responsibility in the dairying industry indicate that they are not satisfied wSh past methods, and are not content to drift back to old practices, but are determined tliat, having the goods, they will see that they obtain the profits. The time is propitious to seize the opportunity that now presents itself, and organise to complete the work that needs only to be grappled with loyally and determinedly, sinking all petty differences, to promote the common biterest of nil." The National Dairy Association's profit and loss account stands at £28,862 — an increase of £-!AB7, and there is a credit of '£lßß3 on the year's operations. Business has steadily increased and is expanding. Membership stands at 288.