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EL—27

Tests of Butter fob Moisture Contents, N.Z.D.A., Season 1908-9. 13-27 14-00 11-75 9-18 12-10 14-45 13-95 13-11 13-99 10-95 9-85 11-60 13-66 13-80 13-28 12-93 11-28 12-06 12-20 14-90 13-00 13-25 12-92 12-83 12-58 12-60 12-96 13-42 13-36 15-16 12-81 12-60 10-75 14-12 13-75 13-30 14-63 12-86 14-10 12-40 13-21 15-45 12-79 10-30 13-06 12-20 14-65 13-98 12-43 14-15 10-67 10-06 14-60 12-00 14-05 12-70 13-82 12-96 10-46 13-10 12-30 14-24 12-90 13-80 13-09 12-37 13-50 12-15 14-50 13-06 13-86 14-84 13-77 15-00 10-15 13-25 13-97 13-84 12-78 13-60 13-80 12-40 14-00 13-82 11-33 13-81 12-20 12-50 13-77 1320-04 13-75 11-50 9-68 12-40 12-11 13-75 13-74 11-97 9-16 12-30 14-58 13-65 101 samples. Average, 1294.

Department of Agriculture, Dairy Division, Dear Sir, — Wellington, 23rd February, 1909. With regard to the moisture content of your butter for export, I regret to have to inform you that a sample was taken from a consignment graded on the 13th instant, and was forwarded to New Plymouth for analysis, and found to contain over 20 per cent, of water. This butter was also found to be over 2 lb. short in weight, and it was marked with the registered number 109. As these irregularities are breaches of the Dairy Industry Act, I have been instructed to take proceedings against the company. If the butter is still in store it might be advisable for you to have a sample taken for analysis on your own account. I am sorry that any delay should have occurred in notifying you in regard to this matter, but, being absent in the South Island, it was held over until my return. I might add that the sample was taken from a consignment of ten boxes of butter, which were graded on the above-mentioned date. Yours, &c, D. Cuddie, Dairy Commissioner. The Managing Director, New Zealand Dairy Association, Auckland. Dear Sir,— 16th December, 1908. A sample of butter taken from a consignment received at the stores from your Pukekohe factory was analysed at New Plymouth on the 9th instant, and found to contain 1617 per cent, of moisture. You will observe that this is slightly over the legal limit, and I would point out the necessity of guarding against any excess over 16 per cent.—in fact, it would be unwise to work up to this, as it is a very difficult matter to regulate the moisture in butter to within 1 or 2 per cent. I presume that you are now using the combined churn and butter-worker, and this will probably account for the high moisture content in this case. There has been quite a lot of trouble in this connection at other factories this season, and I am anxious to prevent any butter leaving the Dominion which would lead to a prosecution at the Home end, for it only requires one or two cases to be taken up by the authorities there to seriously affect the good name of New Zealand butter. My reason for bringing this matter under your notice is purely in the interests of your company and of the dairy industry generally, and I trust that steps will be taken by your managers to prevent any butter being sent in for shipment which contains more than 16 per cent, of moisture. Yours, dec, D. Cuddie, Wesley Spragg, Esq., Auckland. Dairy Commissioner. - Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, not given; printing 1,400 copies), £12 3s.

Dear Sir, — 16th December, 1908. A sample of butter taken from a consignment received at the stores from your Pukekohe factor\ r was analysed at New Plymouth on the 9th instant, and found to contain 1617 per cent, of moisture. You will observe that this is slightly over the legal limit, and I would point out the necessity of guarding against any excess over 16 per cent.—in fact, it would be unwise to work up to this, as it is a very difficult matter to regulate the moisture in butter to within 1 or 2 per cent. I presume that you are now using the combined churn and butter-worker, and this will probably account for the high moisture content in this case. There has been quite a lot of trouble in this connection at other factories this season, and I am anxious to prevent any butter leaving the Dominion which would lead to a prosecution at the Home end, for it only requires one or two cases to be taken up by the authorities there to seriously affect the good name of New Zealand butter. My reason for bringing this matter under your notice is purely in the interests of your company and of the dairy industry generally, and I trust that steps will be taken by your managers to prevent any butter being sent in for shipment which contains more than 16 per cent, of moisture. Yours, &c, D. Cuddie, Wesley Spragg, Esq., Auckland. Dairy Commissioner. Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given; printing 1,400 copies), £12 3s.

Authority : Jobf Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9o9.

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