BUTTER AND CHEESE.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 February 1922, Page 4

BUTTER AND CHEESE.

AN EXCELLENT SEASON. BIG INCREASE IN OUTPUT. Contrary to general expectations at the beginning of the season, the present prospects for dairy produce, paitieularly butter and cheese, in Taranaki are exceptionally bright, and by the time the season ends it ts estimated that the increase on last year’s output will be greater by at lease 20 per cent. Figures to bock this statement are provided by an analysis of the butter and cheese which has passed through the Taranaki Producers’ Freezing Works at Moturoa during the current season. These are as follow (last season’s figures being given for comparison):— 1921-2/ 1920-21 Butter (in boxes) .. 142.281 102,664 Cheese (in crates) .. 100.863 97,773 This shows an increase of 39,617 boxes of butter and 3090 crates of cheese.

Earlier in the season the output of butter tvas extraordinary, but now the tendency is to swing back to cheese production. This has been most marked during the last five weeks, at the beginning of which period cheese showed a decrease on the previous season's figures of 13,839 crates, a deficit which reference to the above figures will show has been more than made up. Butter, however, which at the middle of January was 46,650 boxes ahead of last season’s figures, but has dropped 1o 39,617 boxes above the previous season’s •output.

The financial side of the question is naturally troubling some farmers, but one man prominently connected with the industry was hopeful that the season’s payments would average Is 2d per lb. of butter-fat for butter supplies and Is 4d per lb. for c'noese, or. in other words, approximately equal to pre-war payments. The shipment of produce -from Taranaki throughout the season has been satisfactory, though there have been no shipments since the beginning of the month and at the present time :he Taranaki Producers’ Freezing Work* has in store 27,000 boxes of butter and 31,000 crates of cheese. Further shijments in view this season arc:

For London. —Kia Ora, loading at New Plymouth about March 3. 12.000 boxes of butter and 0500 ciatcs of cheese; Pakeha, at New Plymouth about March 27 , 8000 orates of cheese-. Remuera, at Wellington, abOn'. April 12, 15,000 boxes of butter and 7000 crates of cheese.

For West Coast of England ports (Avonmouth, Liverpool. Manchester and Glasgow), all taking butter and cheese: —Somerset, loading at Wellington about March 14; Leitrim, at Wellington. about March 17; Durham, at Wellington, about April 2. For the past month or so the farmer has been without rain. A copious downpour, which would ensure a continuance of the present splendid flow of milk, would put the finishing touches on what has been a phenomenal seaso’i.