DAIRYING INDUSTRY REVIEW.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1149, 9 June 1911, Page 8

DAIRYING INDUSTRY REVIEW.

"LACK OF Pi AIN COST US -2323,650." Thirty-five new dairy factories were opened during (ho present season, viz., 19 in the North Island and 1(! in the South island, distributed as follow-.— C'heefo Butter Factories. I'actories. .Auckland 1 5 Wellington 5 2 Tnritimki 2 — Hawke's Cay I — Marlboro'land Nelson I) — Canterbury 1 1 Otago and Southland 11 — Total 27 8 The above figures arc given in the annual report of the National Dairy Association of New Zealand, which comments upon them as follow:—With this large increase in the number of factories a corresponding increase in the Dominion's output of dairy produce might have been confidently expected, but the reverse lws been the case. This has been due solely to the lack of rain which has affected practically tho wholo of New Zealand. Some districts have suffered severely, viz., Wairarapa, Hawke's Bay, Mannwatu, and Bangitikei, and particularly so in' the South Island, where the decrease has been much greater proportionately than in. the North Island. Working on figures taken from the Customs returns, which include the whole of the butter and cheese sent out of the Dominion, whether to England. South Africa, or Vancouver, we get the above result. The figures are given in pounds of butter-fat for the sake of comparison. From July 1. 190 D. to December 31. 1905). New Zealand exported 19,311.-1931 b. of butter-fat. For the same period in 1910, 20,492,9721h. were exported, being an increase of G per cent. "If we compare the figures at the end of April, hoviever," continues tlie report, "we get a different result. For the year ending April SO, 1910. the Dominion produced for export, 49,303,57711). of butterfat, and for the same period ending April 30, 1911, 17.266.37511)., a decrease of 5 per cent, for the twelve months. Had the season been normal the increase at December 31 might have, reasonably been expected to hold good for the season, and in round figures the lack of Tain cost the Dominion .£325,050." The report proceeds:—"Turning to figures representing exports to Great Britain we find that our export, of cheese decreased by 16 per cent, and butter by 2 per cent. Taking the South Island alone the decrease in cheese was 10 per rent, and butter 42 per cent. In the North Island the decrease in cheese was 19 per cent., whilst butter showed an increase of 1 per cent. Eight thousand and eight boxes have been'shipped to Vancouver, and 12.99S boxes to South Africa during the year. Figures for previous year are not available. "Tho butter market has been disappointing and has not been equal to the previous year. Probably the wain reason for this reduccd price was the largo increase in tho export from tho Commonwealth, where a splendid season has been experienced. For the period July 1. 1910, to April 30, 1911, the increase was 4S per cent. Wo give the exports for this period for four venrs:—l9o7-1908. 21,558 tons; 190S-1909, 15.431 tons; 1909-1910, 20,163 tons: and 1910-1911, 43,419 tons. "Cheese prices have been well maintained and throughout the season were about, equal to last season, but. it is now about 4s. Gd. per c'.vt. better than at the same period last year. Contrary to the? experience of last, season, coloured cheese has risen above while until the difference was 3s. per cwt. in favour of coloured. This had a tendency to turn the attention of factories to the making of more ■coloured cheese, and the prices are now equal. Canada's import into Britain shows a decrease, the figures being in cwts.: — June, 1909 to Jlarch, 1910 1,369,751 June, 1910 to March, 1911 1,345,678 "Judging iby tho returns from tho grading stores the quality of New Zealand butter was never higher, but as is usual on a dull market thero have been a number of complaints as to quality from the London end."