The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, The Echo and The Sun. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1933. THE DAIRY OUTLOOK.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 206, 1 September 1933, Page 6

The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, The Echo and The Sun.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1933. THE DAIRY OUTLOOK.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs resistant* For the future in the d'Stance, And the goad chat vie can dn.

A picture of the difficulties under -which the dairying industry has laboured during the past twelve months is presented in the annual review of the Dairy Control Board. In surveying the situation the Board points out that production set a new record, but the benefits which normally would have been expected to follow this expansion were swallowed up in low prices. The marketingtroubles of last autumn are still clear in the memory. New problems had to be faced, and the Board, as representative of New Zealand producers, experienced the full force of the pressure from Britain to restrict our shipments of butter. Its opposition to the British demands was fully justified from the Dominion point of view by the lack of alternative markets. With the passing of the crisis there has been a marked recovery in prices, but there remains the possibility, not to be overlooked, of a recurrence of similar trouble in the future. The Board, therefore, has given further attention to the need of developing new markets, but unfortunately it has little to offer of a construc-ive value. Prospects in the East do not inspire it with hope, though there are many who will.refuse to accept the Board's view. One serious obstacle is that it costs twice as much to send a box of butter from Auckland to Japan as it does to London, and that Australia has a great advantage over New Zealand in regular shipping services. We have, however, the assurance of tho Dominion's trade commissioner in Australia that butter from this country stands high in the estimation of Eastern buyers, and in some of the markets has commanded a premium over all other brands. This is a reminder of- the high quality of our output, and it is encouraging to learn from the Dairy Board's report that a further improvement was made last year. It is quality more than quantity that is required to ensure the prosperity of Dominion dairying.

Besides the butter question there is that of cheese, which presents special problems of its own, some of a highly technical character. Last season reports from Britain were more favourable towards our cheese, but there is much room for further improvement. If this is to be brought about, however, scientific knowledge and better methods of production are necessary. It is regrettable, in these circumstances, that there has not been full co-operation between the Department and outside experts in formulating the new regulations. The complaints of Mr. P. O. Veale have not been satisfactorily answered by the Minister. A few months ago it Avas thought that these regulations would pave the way for better conditions, particularly in the cheese industry, but there is not yet the co-ordination of interests that there should be. New Zealand dairy producers need all the assistance that can be given them to put their house in order, which means to reduce costs and improve the standard of their product, and the public will expect from the leaders of the industry, vigorous and constructive action.