THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1906.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7960, 10 February 1906, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1906.

A great deal has been said and written about "the alleged collapse in the butter trade" by persons who are entirely ignorant of the subject, and, therefore, not qualified to express an opinion thereon. The dairy industry of New Zealand, although not so targe in value as that of frozen meat and wool, is of more importance from the fact of its giving employment; to a greater number of people. Where tbe sheep industry employs two or three men to the square mile, of country, dairy farming would find a living for a dozen families, and for that reason alone

dairying has a claim on the Government wnicu cannot be sot aside. During tbe past fifteen year 3 a great deal of important work has been done under the auspices of the Department of Agriculture in the direction of grading dairy produce for export, and endorsing the packages with the Government brand. Instructors have been sent round to the vaiious factories to teach butter and cheese makers the way to turn out a first grade article of uniform quality. A considerable sum of money is expended yearly by the New Zealand Government in carrying out this important work, aud it is money well pahi out. Tbe result is that New Zealand butter and cheese is sold on the British market on the brand and grade "to arrive." and suoh grading has firmly established a market for us. *****

A decided injury to our trade is being brought about by unscrupulous "fakers" of butter in England adulterating our high-class article and putting it on the market as "New Zealand butter." Anyone familiar with the provision trade of Great Britain is aware that when any particular line of provivisions exceeds a recognised standard price the sale of that particular article practically stops until tbe price finds its level again. This necessitates finding a substitute or an inferior article. Take butter retailed at a stalling. Th>s price is a fixture, and it is the quality of the article sold at this price that fluctuates. Tbe consumers must be supplied with something at a shilling, whether it. is good, bad or indifferent. When, from scarcity or other cause, the first grade article increases in price then the "faking" of butter flourishes, to supply the ever constant demand for butter (?) at a fixed price. Then it is that honest tradesmen suffer.

There are produce houses at Home that may be thoroughly relied upon to sell the genuine artiole, and suoh bousfls are decidedly injured by unscrupulous dealers who label their butter "first grade, New Zealand," and sell at 20 to 30 per cent, below the vendors of the genuine article. The method adopted in "faking" butter has reoently been completely exposed, and it has been shown that by shipping from this colony butter, in an uusalted state we help forward the swindle that is being worked in adulterating it. The good name already gained for Now Zealand butter on the British markets is threatened with extinction through this nefarious practice of unscrupulous British tradesmen, and there ia every reason to protest against the iniquities of certain English dealers, and, also, every necessity for securing State intervention. When we reflect that the dairy export trade of this culony has reached £1,000,000 a year, and that this sum is divided emongst something like ten thousand families, the importance of the question to the whole colony will be at once recognised by all thinking people.

Evidence of tbe importance of the question discussed in this artiole is the fact,, as will be seen by a oable published in this issue, that the Earl of Carringfcun, President of the Board of Agriculture, bones to have a Bill, whiohwill have for its object the protection of both producers and consumers, passed by the House of Commons in June next. The measure which will, no doubt, be upon the right lines, will be warmly welcomed by colonial producers.