THE DAIRY INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3093, 25 May 1917, Page 8

THE DAIRY INDUSTRY

'■' REVIEW OF THE YEAR

PROSPECTS FOR THE FUTURE

An interesting survey of tlio dairy inilustry us it stunds to-day is mado in tho annual report of the National Dairy Association of Now Kealand. Tho report emphasises the growth of tho industry, mentioning that the exports of buttei and cheeso for the year ended March 31, 1917, was valued at i 0,857,655, while the stores at present contain about 243,000 boxes of butter ami 123,000 crates of oheeso awaiting shipment. It' traces the difficulties lliat have benu created for the industry by the way. • "Comparing' the present season with us predecessor?," states the report, "the" difficulties pertaining to outward and inward shipments have not decreased, but have'been accentuated. During the past season from May 1, 1916, to April 30, 1917, 53 steamers have taken dairy produce as against dS for the corresponding period of last seuson. The heavy congestion of both butter and cheese at the various grading ports awaiting shipment, the difficulty of arranging , brands for export per each steamer so that every factory should have, a fair proportion of tho space available according to their respective requirements, and in view of tho continually decreasing insulated space available, have added considerably to the work of tho office. In this connection the forbearance exercised by all shippers of dairy product) has compensated largely for any additional anxiety and extra vqrk."

The Past Season. Tlie'_ season lias been a bad ouo l'rom (ho climatic point of view. "The season opened early, the milking herds were in fairly good condition, rain was plentiful, and the. pastures abundant. There was every indication so far .as the North Island was concerned for a long and profitable season. Unfortunately, during • tlio first three months of 1917 in consequence of continued dry weather in tho southern dairyins districts of the North Island, the conditions wcro so unfavourable lo tho pastures that the milk supply diminished vapidly. Tho "Wnirarapa, tho coast [mo from Wellington to Palmerston North and Taranaki have suffered severely. Consequently in these portions of the Dominion, notwithstamfiiiK the enhanced value of dairy produce, returns will not compare favourably with previous seasons. .Diminished quantity with higher'prices is not so advantageous lo tht, dairyman, as increased output and fair average prices. On the other hand, the Hawko's Bay and Auckland provinces, which aro -usually dry in .Tjnuary to March, lmvo had an abundant rainfa.ll and feed has been plentiful. In this respect Iho season Has been phenomenal and tho output probably abovo normal. During the second week in. April fino rains wore experienced generally in Iho southern districts, grass has freshened and provided severe frosts hold off, tho autumn and winter pastures aro assured." Oversea Transport. "The withdrawal of some steamers to meet 'Imperial requirements, tho conslant demand (hrousjhout tho world for additional tonnage, tho losses entailed by subinarino warfare, have entailed a heavy toll on the usual transport facilities available to tho Dominion under normal conditions, and have been sevcrcl.v felt durinjj tho year," says tho report. Lbe delay in regular dispatch of oheeso I his year has had ;i serious effect on duality. Whilst tho cbceso stood well for several weeks in buildings not insulated and tho temperature, was not controlled, the heat during JCarch wps too PDvero for such, as had .been so treated, and they matured 100 rapidly. Tho fhortago of shipping bus boen a serious drawback, but this" was inevitable, nud it is jjralifyine to note that with tlio restriction of tonnace at their disDosal tho Shipownnra' Overseas Committee have invariably civoti every assistance in their power to facilitate tho shirmcuts of butler and choose with the limited spaco thoy wo ablo to control. As to future prospects for tho coniniff season, it is difficult to determine whothor the situation will beconio easier or inoro difficult. Cargo stoamora suit-

aWo for tho Noir Zealand trade aro not procurable immedintcly by purchase, neither can wn expect under existing

circumstances any aroafc increase to tho number of the Dominion fradinjr fleet by tho addition at short notice of new bouts. Tt is fiuito within tho realm of probability that tho tonnage position will become more unsatisfactory before it improves." Cheese Purchase. The report Teviows tho negotiations that ended in. tho purchase o£ tho output of checso by the Government on behalf of tho Imperial authorities, and adds:—' Probably some luctory directors and; suppliers .stilt consider the sale n sacrifice and that mote could have been obtained in the open market. The yoint to settle is, hud the exporter an 'open , market? looked at from this standpoint the arrangement was advantageous to tho vendors, it provided a handsome and assured return at a remunerative figure, placing tho' responsibility of. arrangin* transport on tho purchaser, and tho buyer was benefited inasmuch as it secured an-nmple supply to meet raiuiremeiits at a less price than could be obtained by purchases the same article .landed in the United Kingdom." the quality of the butter manufactured during the year was high. The report mentions tho good work done by tho (Director and staff of tho Dairvin'g Division of the Department of Apiculture, but adds that the flavour of tho butter still falls short of the standard of some years ago. The quality of the cheese improved with the advance of the season. Storage Space, "The experience of the year," stales the report, ' demonstrates beyond doubt that more storage room tor dairy produce especially cheese must be provided if these products are to be handled with the minimum of loss and advantage to the producer. The time has passed wheu the Dominion, in any case until a return to tho normal condition of shipping facilities, can rely on rapid transit to cover 'the delects of a system which should bo re-adjusted to meet altered conditions. Xo handle this business effectively increased accommodation by way o f cool storage is essential. Naturally this will be an addition to present niannfacturiu" or transit charges, but whatever those i charges may be it is an absolute necessity that groups ol' cheese factories must have ample space for storing perishable articles at coastal ports whilst in courso of transit and in case of delay to meet extraordinary contingencies, it may, of

course be urged, that tUe conditions of (he last three years were abnormal and will be non-recurring. That may be true, but 'the fact remains thnt existing provisions are now even insufficient for nov-i mal requirements. It is wiser to have an excess of such advantages than to experience the annoyance, worry, and loss of restricted conveniences incidental to inadequate space. Future of the Industry: "Xo doubt inuiiy 10-day engaged in the industry have considered and aro still considering what effect the- present war will have on dairying when we return to post-war conditions. Will the demand-for ilairy produce be us great then <is now? Will the rango of values bu as high as those ruling? Will dairying bo as payable and prosperous an occupation then us in the- past? Probably the main factor in 'determining the- possibilities !of the lies in tho fact that prior to the war Continental herds were unable to supply, tho growing demand for beef as a staple article of food. The result of the war is that tho herds of the Central Powers, Balkan States, and Russia, have been depleted. It will take someyears to restore- the balance lost and restock farms; and thoso Continental countries which have been our competitors in tho United Kingdom in tho dair.y produce trade will bo handicapped. ' There will, after the war, bo a stronger demand for beef and dajry produco as urtictes of food and tho demand for the former will hinder tho rapid development of ilairy herds. With such a favourable outlook, if tho war ends as wo )>elicve it will, Uieii with coulideneo tho dairy farmer can improve and increase his herd, feeling assured that dairy produce for tome years t» cane will find a-profitable market; at prices, not perhaps as high as they are to-day, but on a basis that ''ill amply reward his industry and toil."