WEATHER AND DAIRY CHEQUES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 22, 27 January 1928, Page 4

WEATHER AND DAIRY CHEQUES.

THE POSITION ANALYSED.

The. big spell of fine weather is very welcome to city people, but in a country whose prosperity is dependent so much on the monthly milk cheques, it should be remembered that the possibility of drought may cancel the great advantage of pre-Christmas dairy production on a record scale. Writes "The Dairyman":—

Briefly analysing the dairy position, the bright and. outstanding, feature is the extraordinary increase in production which has been taking place during the first six months of the season. How much of this increase is due to an exceptionally favourable season, and how much to personal effort and improved methods is, of course, impossible to say. An increase at the end of the year of approximately 13 per cent over the previous eear —a season that was regarded as a satisfactory one—is certainly a remarkable performance, and indicates the wonderful possibilities possessed by the Dominion as a dairying country. On the other hand prices for our butter and cheese did not come up to the expectation we were led to anticipate at the commencement of the season, but have lagged, considerably behind the values of previous years. London butter prices during Christmas week, generally a period of high-water mark, were at 1«4/, which was the lowest quotation for many years past, while cheese, at 91/, shared a similar fate. The reasons for such low values have not as yet been adequately explained, and the opinion has been repeatedly expressed that they are not jutified by the statistical position which discloses a distinct shortage in several recognised countries of production. In fact, one of the features of the present season is this unusually large proportion of butter that has been exported to countries other than Great Britain. Australia, ' during the winter and early spring, was a regular customer; steady quantities are still being sent to Canada; and the trade with the East is gaining larger proportions every year. Unfortunately there is every likelihood that several of these markets may be closed to us any day. The Australian dairy-farmers have already been successful in inducing the (Jovernment to increase the duty on imported butter to 6d per lb, and Canadian producers are making strenuous efforts in a similar direction.

While the present prices may be disappointing to many, we must nevertheless be prepared to face lower values and ento our new position in anC r e y>th present standards of other words, we have to look y and quality production—which 01 8 w ithin our control— caused bv n a h n repet i ition of inflated Prices Looked at fr™ rm +t- eco ® omic conditions. iiooKea at fiom this point of view tho fuI U fnr fh 6 Particularly bright and hopeTil • Zealand dairy farmer There is noticeable a definite movement towards better breeding, better feeding and herd improvement cenerallv which has greater chances of succe« with it wrn.lHL COm^ I ' fttiVe,y !°. W price 6 than values a re P et,tlon of inflated