Dairy Produce Markets

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 16, 13 October 1932, Page 11

Dairy Produce Markets

Sir, —In a recent issue you devoted an interesting half-column to Captain Gor-ing-Johnston’s opinions on the neglected opportunities for trade between New Zealand and the East. The primary producers of this country are fortunate in having a Press which is willing to provide as much space as has recently been given to discussion of this important subject But what is the real position? Any produce we send to India must be transhipped, usually at least once in Australia, and probably a second time at Colombo or elsewhere. Transhipment is very expensive for ordinary cargo, but for perishable things like dairy produce it is ruinous. How can we expect the quality of our frozen -butter to stand up to conditions associated with transhipment in the sweltering heat of the tropics? Australia has the advantage of frequent and direct shipping services to both India ' and Egypt, so that it is practically ira-j possible for New Zealand to compete ini these markets. Similar conditions oper-s ate with regard to Singapore, the East| Indies and the Far East. j Another point is that splendid direct; shipping services run between Holland ; and the Dutch East Indies. Dairy farm- i ers in the Netherlands have been no 1 less hard hit by the slump than their i competitors. If clever Dutch merchants ‘ cannot sell in the East more of their j butter (which is often better even than ; Danish) we may feel sure that it is not for want of trying. With so much talk about new markets it is surprising that everybody seems to have overlooked our own domestic market. Probably only a little more butter or cheese could be sold in New Zealand, but it is a crime to allow the majority of our children and young people to grow up without drinking about three times as much milk as they do at present. The per capita consumption of milk per day in New Zealand cities is only about half a pint. If this were doubled it would represent in Wellington alone the sale of about 0000 gallons daily, equivalent to about 2 tons of butter or 700 tons per annum. For the whole of New Zealand this figure would become 7000 tons, while even one pint per head per day of milk is still a low figure. Apart from the circulation of more money in the community. the health of young and old would be immeasurably improved. This would, in fact, constitute one of tho simplest and cheapest ways of reducing the immense cost to the State of school medical services, dental clinics, and hospital services generally. Far too many people have been frightened off the drinking of milk by overemphasis of the amount of disease spread by this most perfect of nature’s foods. Especially in the Capital City unsurpassed opportunities for selling more milk have long been shockingly and reckless ly cast away; some drastic and longoverdue changes will have to be made before that end can be attained. In conclusion, Sir, might I suggest that if the Press of New Zealand were to take up this subject and sec that it is maintained before the public, they would not only perform a great service to th« primary producers, but they would perform an even greater service by improving the health of the community.—l am, etc., DRINK MORE MILK. October 4.