DAIRY PRODUCE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 64, Issue 179, 11 May 1944, Page 5

DAIRY PRODUCE.

OUTPUT FALLS 25 PER CENT (P.A.) DUNEDIN, May 10. Dairy production in the Dominion during the year ended March 31, 1944, declined by at least 161 per cent. This is disclosed in the thirty-eighth annual report of the South Island Dairy Association, which also states that grading figures show that production has fallen by about 25 per cent in the last two years. For the year ended March 31 last the total' quantities of butter and cheese graded for export in the Dominion were as follows: creamery butter, 94,972 tons; whey butter, 2343 tons; cheese, 85,100 tons. Compared AVith the previous year these figures slioav a decrease of 15,501 tons of butter, and a decrease of 24,855 tons of cheese. The report states that because of butter rationing in the Dominion, the drop in production last year was actually more than 16J per cent. The rationing scheme instituted by the Government some months ago made available for export a substantial quantity of butter. It is reckoned that in a full year rationing will release for export an additional quantity of at least 12,000 tons of butter. The grading figures indicate a drop of 13 per cent in butter-fat production in the South Island, compared with the previous year. In tAvo years the figures shoxv a decline of 23 per cent in the South Island.