H.—29

16

Production. Notwithstanding the partially adverse weather conditions referred to, the production of cheese, for the year has been in excess erf the quantity dealt with for the corresponding pevriod of the preceding year. As will be seem from the> quantity tables contained in this report, this increase amounted ter 71,795 e.wt., or 6-27 per cent, above the production for the 1918-19 season. On the other hand, there has been a falling-off in the production of butter to the extent of 61,805 cwt., which is equal to a reduction of 17-7 per cent, during the, same period. While the quantity of cheese, manufactured per annum has steadily increased for many years past, there has been a yearly drop in production of butter as from the' 1917-18 season, and this reduction has been greater during the season under review than in any other year. As mentioned in previous reports, the main reason for the decrease in quantity is due, to lower relative prices obtainable for butter as compared with the price, for cheese. In expectation erf producers being allowed to receive higher marke:t prices after the end of the present contract to sell to the, Imperial Government- which expires in July- a number of the dairy companies at present manufacturing cheese have been making preparations to manufacture butter. This action is deemed advisable owing to the: present high price few butter in Great Britain being far above normal. If these' prices continue and producers are allerwed to take advantage of them in accordance with pre-war arrangements for marketing, it will undoubtedly mean a large, increase in the production of butter in the, Dominion during next season. In view of the present world-shortage of butter and its importance as a food for the people, it is to be hoped that those engaged in this branch of dairying will be' givem every encouragement to produce: the: maximum quantity in the years to come. Exports of Butteb and Cheese, Although the production of butter was only moderately less than for the: previous year, the quantity exported for this year shows a big decrease as compared with last year's figure's. This is accounted for by the: fact that very little butter available, for export remained in sterre on 31st March, 191.9, whereas on the same date in 1918 large: stocks were awaiting shipment. In addition to this the quantity of butter in store at the end of the year under review totalled .186,715 boxes. Cheese, on the other hand, shows an increase both in production and exports, the total shipments being 351,907 cwt. in excess of last year's figures. This quantity, however, more than represents the actual increase in production, as the total in store awaiting shipment on 31st March, 1919, was considerably greater than that in store at the end erf the present year. The. following tables show the quantities and classes of dairy-produce exported from the various grading-ports. Where, not otherwise: specified the figures refer ter the ye:ar£endedj3lst March, 1920. The weight of a, package erf butter may be taken as 56 lb. net, and that of a package of cheese: as 160lb.net,

Creamery Butter to United Kingdom.

Whey Butter to United Kingdom.

Dairy Butter to United Kingdom.

Port. Total Packages. First Grade. Second Grade, j Third Grade. ' Auckland ,. lisborne <Tew Plymouth 327,031 4,720 42,356 570 14,371 58,530 33,845 9,229 305,138 4,720 42,249 390 12,814 57,394 32,554 8,838 21,591 302 'atea Vanganui Vellington jyttolton and Timaru .. )unedin 107 180 1,557 1,136 1,291 391 Totals .. 302 490,652 464,097 26,253

Port. Total Packages. First Grade. Second Grade. Third Grade. Auckland New Plymouth Patea Wanganui Wellington Lyttelton Dunedin 6,968 4,644 8,1.50 1,171 6,445 394 465 397 2,963 5,708 305 5,476 315 375 6,288 1,681 2,442 866 957 75 90 283 12 4 Totals .. 28,237 15,539 12,399 299

Port. Total Packages. First Grade. Second Grade. Third Grade. New Plymouth Wellington 58 46 17 41 46 Totals .. 104 17 41 46