RECORD DAIRY SEASON.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 April 1921, Page 8

RECORD DAIRY SEASON.

PRODUCTION IN AUCKLAND. LARGE INCREASE IN BUTTER. It was established some time ago that the present dairy season would be a record for the Auckland district in production. The quantity of butter received to the end ©f February at the Farmers’ Freezing Company’s grading stores already exceeded the total receipts for any previous season. The past month’s receipts still show a large increase compared with those of March, 1920, and though the factory returns in some localities are rapidly declining as a result of dry weather, there is every indication that the volume of production to the end of the season will exceed the autumn production of last season.

Butter received at the grading stores to tlie end of March totalled 704,020 boxes, compared with 425,970 boxes received to the end of March, 1920, an increase of 27'9,050. The total received last season was about 490,000 boxes, so that this season’s receipts already show an increase of approximately 214,020 boxes. The stores last month received 91,350 boxes, compared with 60,483 in the previous March, an increase of 30.-867. Last month’s receipts also exceeded those of February by 4680 boxes. Indicating that every effort was made by the various factories to forward all available supplies for export. The export value of the butter received to the end of last month shows a very large increase, compared with the figures of the corresponding period Zf the previous season, being £4,928,140, as against £1,927,514, an increase of £3,000.626. The value of butter per box this season under the agreement with the Imperial authorities is £7, as against £4 10s 6d last season. The quantity of cheese received at the grading stores this season to the end of March was 145,306 crates, compared with 125,.260 during the corresponding period of the 1919-20 season, an increase of 17,046 crates. Last month W.213 crates were received, compared with 18,650 during March, 1-920, a decrease of 8437. This decrease is probably accounted for by the’ fact that factories were requested to hold in store as much cheese as possible, owing to the demands on storage space bv butter and other commodities. It is stated also that several cheese factories in the district recently changed to butter manufacture. Judging by the average cheese production this season, it is anticipated that this season’s output will be at least equal to that o; last season.

The allotments of shipping space for butter and cheese from Auckland for April include 8500 boxes of butter and 5200 crates of cheese by the Waimana, 29.000 boxes of butter and 9000 crates of cheese by the Whakatane, and 30,000 boxes of butter by the Port Darwin. When these shipments have been made there will remain in store about 30,000 boxes of Imperial-owned butter, and 25,000 crates of cheese. —Herald.