THE DAIRY INDUSTRY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 195, 16 August 1895, Page 2

THE DAIRY INDUSTRY.

The condition of uncertainty which hang 8 over the dairying industry ml the Waikato with regard to the prospects of the coming season cannob but be deplored by all who have the interests of Auckland at heart. Tho season opens on the Ist of September, bub, so far, no setblemenb seems to have been arrived ab bobween the farmers and the proprietors of the creameries, and ifc is currently reported thab some of tbo farmers are so dissatisfied with the way matters have gone that they have almost resolved fco relinquish the dairying part of thoir operations, or carry ib on as a domestic industry. A largo amount of capital has been invested in the creameries, and a still larger amount in the cows and pasturage necessary for maintaining tho supply of milk, and ib would be a very great pity if an industry which has conferred such immense benefits upon the Waikato, and which has such possibilities of expansion, were to receive a severe check now.

Ib is a pleasure to leara thab in tho districts served by the New Zealand Dairy Association an amicable arrangemenb has been made. The response to the Association's offer of 2£d per gallon has been so general and so hearty, thab although agreements on this basia have been made, the Aesociation feel that they aro warranted in making a further concession in favour of the milk suppliers, which is explained in the following circular, issued by Mr Spragg, manager of the Association:—

"ltia with pleasure 1 advise you that, in view of the full supply of milk which wo are likely to receive, and which promises to slightly reduce the cosb of the manufacture of our bubcer for the coming season, we have decided that for this season we will boar tho whole cosb of tho carriage of cream, both by carb and rail, instead of deducting one-half of this cost from your milk account, as agreed upon with you. We are tho more glad to find ib is possible for us to make this concession (which comos opportunely at the time when the price for milk is reduced), because of tho general willingness which you have shown to meob us in our proposals for the coming season, and the assistance which you olier us in meeting the present low markets. You will now understand that the uniform price for the season of eight months, of spring and samaior, will be twopence half-penny per gallon o,f standard quality milk (ekira to bo returned to you freo), without any deduction, excepbiuc when tho supply is for a less period than the full eight months, when tho uniform price will bo one-eighb of a ponny less. The creameries will be opened on September Ist., and milk supplying rausb coinmenco promptly. In cases whoro no cows have calved, six days' grace will be allowed."

In a former artielo wo pointed oub the practical difficulties which would attend bhe working of tho arrangomenb proposed under Messrs Reynolds and Co.'s sliding scale. The Company have since offered a reduction in tho minimum London sale price on tho basis of which the supplier would receive 2^d per gallon for standard milk, bub in overy respect a contract which assures to the farmer a fixed price, leaving tho manufacturer bo make as much profit ns ho can, is manifestly the moat satisfactory, and we hope thabMossra Reynolds and Co. will yob see their way to offer the terms which have proved acceptable bo the farmers who supply milk to the Now Zealand Dairy Association. The sum of 2|d per gallon for standard milk is low enough in all conscienco, and if tho farmer cannot bo assured of that ib must become a question with him whether it will bo worth while bo go on supplying the creameries.