MARKETING DAIRY PRODUCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 June 1922, Page 2

MARKETING DAIRY PRODUCE.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —The excitement of killing t?ie dairy pool has somewhat subsided, but the plain fact still confronts us that we are not satisfied with the present system of marketing our stuff. I should like to make a few suggestions that may help to put the dairy industry in North Taranaki in a superior position, in fact, we have the most magnificent conditions here, superior to any other district in New Zealand, to run a marketing scheme of our own. Now situated in North Taranaki we have a group of cheese factories, which are manufacturing cheese, out of, as far as I can ascertain, the richest milk in the southern hemisphere if not in the world. After the very latest experiments conducted over a full four years at the Wisconsin Experimental Station, Professor Babcock being associated in the trial, they came to the definite conclusion that for every point the test rises the food value of the cheese increases 2% per cent. Now taking the average test of all milk supplied to cheese factories in New Zealand, I find it would average about 3.7, the range being from 3.3 to 4.48, Very well, if all factories having an average test of over 4 per cent, were to pool their cheese, the average would run out at something like 4.2 per cent. Therefore their cheese would contain 124 per cent, more food value than the, average make in New Zealand. Instead of getting any advantage from this magnificent asset, we, up to now, simply have allowed things to take their chance, and have mostly sold on grade notes, accepting the same price for our cheese that the factory with a 3.3 test got. We have an additional lever placed in our hands this month. One of the leading heart specialists has made this statement, that for a person suffering from heart trouble a cheese diet is absolutely the best in the world. Very well, how about a conference of dairy directors to fully discuss the matter. All the factories that I have mentioned as having a test of over 4 per cent, are situated north of Eltham and ship through Moturoa, their output being about two thousand five hundred tons. Then we could look to our butter friends to come in. A very strong movement is on foot to make a superfine grade. Why not make it yourself? It could be done in this way. Pool all butter grading over 92 with this high testing cheese. There has been produced 4150 tons of this superior butter this year. Now with such a magnificent line of produce under one control, we could comma'nd the best markets in the world. The meeting could decide to dispose of it in two waysj either by auction at Moturoa monthly, or a certificated accountant could be employed to. go through the returns furnished this year by the Tooley Street merchants, and after exhaustive inquiries the firms showing the best nett returns for butter and cheese could be appointed to handle the whole output over a given period. The auction system may be superior in giving the quickest returns, but on the other hand.* with the latter system, with a tip-top advertising manager with Home experience we could establish a great name for our produce always going through the same channel to the best trade in England and America. Working on these lines there would be the greatest incentive for the farmers to produce only the best, and as the other factories produced goods up to the pool standard they would be allowed to come in. There would be very little capital to be found to put a scheme of this sort through. It would be under our own eyes and management with no compulsion, and if tackled promptly could be in working order for next season’s business. Let’s get going.—l am, etc., WILLIE J. FREETH.