The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 1888.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2463, 24 April 1888, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 1888.

Ktjw.il ami e.\:irt justice lo <tll men, Of »vh;ilMK v,'r state or persuasion, religious or political.

Tirrc growing importance of tlin dairy industry is miking itself apparent, and its influence felt from day to flay, amongst the agricultural community, both at Home and in the colonies. The greatest care and attention is being paid to its development by private enterprise. Governments are liberally disposed to assist in this direction by granting certain concessions and providing channels for the dissemination of technical knowledge amongst dairy farmers which will encourage the production of the best commodities, and point out tho best methods for reaching the most dosirablo markets. It is highly interesting to note the progress of the dairy industry in this colony. Notwithstanding - many difficulties that beset it in its earlier stages, the advanco tiiat has already been secured is a fit matter for congratulation, and strengthens our aspirations to see tho dairy raised to the position of one of the staple and most profitable commercial industries of Now Zealand. From various parts of thecolony shipments of cheese and butter have been made to outside markets with results that may bo summed up as generally conveying excellent promises of success. Although there have been instances of failure, they have arisen more from wf,nt of technical know ledge, inexperience in manufacturing processes and shipping details, than from actual inferiority of the virgin article. The enterprise of our dairy producers has not been damped by obstacles which they have determined to surmount; perseverance and renewed exertions have triumphed in so great a measure that the road is now all but clear for the. complete establishment of a great trade with foreign countries.

Up to the present time the stimulation of the dairy industry in this part of the colony has been due to the enterprise of the Freezing Company, who established creameries in different localities in the Waikato, and, after the company, the praiseworthy example and individual enterprise of Mr Richard Reynolds, who has a factory in operation at Cambridge, and has made several shipments of butter to Australian markets. The Freezing Company tested many foreign markets with their unbranded butter in a private manner first, until, having after many failures, succeeded in winning the favour of the consumers, tliey are now in a position to boldly place their manufactured article, covered with their brand, in any market, without fear of rejection. Although the shipment of butter sent by the Company the other day to London did not turn out a success, they have since forwarded two other consignments to the Old Country, care being provided in these instances that they shall be placed in different localities where the best prices are ruling in such lots as may suit the local demand. The company, after making satisfactory trials, are opening up trade with China, India, Australian colonies, the Islands, Rio and other South American ports. Amongst the Islands they have met with u decided success in overcoming the prejudice that has hitherto existed there against tinued butter, and where the Auckland Shell brand is now highly praised and ordered in preference to any other article of the same kind. This is very gratifying, and brightens the future prospects of tho young industry and the ultimate success of the Company itself.

Whilst so much lias been already achieved in creating the dairy industry in Now Zealand, much yet requires to be done to afford it a fair field, and there are grave difficulties remaining that imperil its progress, and must be. removed. The first of these is the railway scale of freights, which is felt to such an extent as to seriously cripple the prosecution of the (Jempany's operations in the Waikato, and we have no doubt Mr Iteynolds finds just grounds for complaint in the same direction. The charges for the conveyance of cream from the country creameries are distinctly prohibitive, and furnish us, in a marked manner, with another, out of a hundred examples, of the railway system being a positive deterrent to settlement and the growth of native industries. We regard the dairy industry of such vital importance to the prosperity of the colony, anil as destined to play a leading part in the restoration of our agricultural interests, that we protest in the strongest language against the continuance of such a blind, short-sighted policy which, grasping at the shadow, to make revenue only out of the railways, loses the substance, in its greed, by destroying industrial enterprise and the encouragement for people to occupy the country contentedly. In and out of Parliament members and Ministers make loud professions of their desire to encourage the increase of local industries. But they give us nothing more than empty theories, neglecting existing opportunities for putting into practical effect their expressed sympathies. Industries I ike the manufacture of cheese and butter for export, which require the expenditure of capital for machinery, labour, etc. , should be allowed many facilities, and not be hindered by the Government of the country in their eagerness to make money out of the people. The Government should utilise the railway, now the chief public highway, to aid the commercial instincts and enterprise of the people, and not present the miserable spectacle of being grovelling money - grubbers in

business. The produce of the (hiiry, whether it be already manufactured, or the raw material, sent, by rail from long distances in the. country to the sea-port, should receive particular treatment from the Government, and we ask that a special concession be made in favour of cream, canned butter and ehc.ese, conveyed from Waikato to Auckland, and that they be charged a rate below the ordinary scale. The value of the industry fully entitles it to this special consideration in order to assure its existence amongst our permanent colonial exports.

The other difficulty, which is a .source of anxiety to the directors of the Freezing Company, is the price puid to the fanners for cream, a ditlicuity not lightened by the ono just referred to. The value of milk from the different suppliers varies to such an extent that the uniform price paid by the Company is found to be in favour of tli« firmer and against the Company. The article, in our issue of March 29th, pointing out how this difficulty can be overcome by fixing a scale of payment to be made according to the average value of the milk, lias engaged the attention of the directors, and we understand they intend to invite the farmers to enter upon an equitable arrangement on the plan suggested. Thus, if the farmer is offered l-5d or l-6d for every per centage of cream exceeding 10 per cent, to each gallon of milk, it will be fairer to the Company, and equally so to the farmer. Not only will the producer of tho richest milk containing the highest per centage of cream and butter fat benefit to a greater extent than he does under the arrangement now in force, but it will be a direct incentive to him to bestow greater attention on his breed of dairy cows, and also to be careful to give them good feed, winter and summer.