DAIRYING IN NORTH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 123, 27 May 1930, Page 8

DAIRYING IN NORTH.

GROWTH OF PRODUCTION. FEATURES OF THE YEAR. MR. W. GROUNDS' CONCLUSIONS. "The amazing increase of butter production last year, due to concentration in farming, has been noticeable to all associated with the industry," said Mr. W. Grounds, chairman pf the North Auckland Dairy Farmers' Association at the seventecth annual conference this morning. Mr. Grounds said that the export figures for the year had reached a very high level, and it was significant that, while dining the earlier years misgivings had been expressed as to the possibilities of reaching saturation point, nothing was heard of that nowadays. The Canadian Tariff. In referring to the recently increased duty on New Zealand dairy produce in Canada, Mr. Grounds said it was most regrettable that Canada had imitated the action of the United States. He thought that if New Zealand continued to export large quantities to Canada under the present tariff, Canadian farmers would agitate for further increases, and would eventually shut out New Zealand butter. "The markets under which we are operating at the present time offer by far the most fruitful fields," he said. The high level of butter production had been maintained. He was pleased to hear that North Auckland had a prominent place in the list of factories producing high-grade products. The grade was still being improved. Speaking of the volume of production, Mr. Grounds said it was satisfactory to note that at the end of April, while the New Zealand increase was 11.35 per cent, on the butterfat basis, the North Auckland increase was 19 per cent. The probabilities of the North were almost illimitable. Those who ventured to forecast that in ten years the North Auckland district would be one of the largest butter-producing areas in New Zealand would not, in Mr. Grounds' opinion, be far out. The tendency to develop subsidiary lines was growing more and more, and it was being realised that the more such development was carried out the better would be the results. Fall in Prices. "Those are the more satisfactory features of the year's work," said Mr. Grounds. "There is, however, a more serious side in the low prices reigning during the past two months." It was inevitable that prices should recede. This state was precipitated by the financial crises in the United States and England, but -more so by the lack of efficient marketing schemes. Mr. Grounds thought that an investigation of the marketing experiences of the past year should be made, and some form of organised marketing assured. The opinion had been expressed that the fall in prices was a mystery, but Mr. Grounds maintained that there was no mystery. For the last two years there had been a threat of a fall in prices when the capacity production of Australia and New Zealand coincided. Mr. Grounds concluded by urging increased production.