DAIRY PRODUCE.

Evening Post, Volume LVI, Issue 75, 26 September 1898, Page 4

DAIRY PRODUCE.

The export of butter and cheese for the season 1898-99 will begin in the course of a few da 3's from New Zealand ; shipments have already gone forward from Victoria and New South Wales, and interest thus becomes focussed on the prospects of the trade. The dairy produce export 'trade is of vital importance to that most sterling class of settlers, the small farmers, and it is pleasing to note that the volume of exports of butter and cheese has steadily increased, and with it the circumstances of the dairy farmers have improved. The industry relies almost wholly on the British market, and while the competition becomes keener with each succeeding year the consumption per head of population in Great Britain has expanded, while the population itself has increased. These two factors have helped to keep the price at a point of profit, but it js possible that with the advance of science the production will far exceed the demand, when prices may be expected to decline to a non-paying point. It is one of the dangers ahead, and can be provided for by extending the market area, by which we mean exploiting new markets, and by fostering allied industries, such as hog and poultry raising for export. The progress of the butter tradd is illustrated in the following figures, which are culled from the annual review of the colonial dairy produce trade issued by the Colonial Consignment Company (Limited), to hand by tin* last mail. An interval of ten years is iong enough to judge of the stability of the industry, and in the following table the imports into the United Kingdom for the

years 1888 and J897 respectively from British colonies show the progress made :—: — 3888. 1897. cwt. cwt. South Australia ... 175 163 Victoria 2,724 169,075 New South Wales 6,825 23,835 Queensland ... — i,280 New Zealand ... 15,801 76,522 Canada 9,307 109,402 From all countries 1,671,433 3,214,290 Victoria is our most formidable competitor in Australasia, and there is no doubt that Victoria butter on the average commands a better price than the New Zealand article. The industry has made vasfc strides, but our producers dare not rest, indeed must not rest — the competition is too keen to admit of that. The trade has not yet been placed on a sound footing, and until it is the producers must work hard individually and collectively. What our producers have to contend with is clearly stated in the review quoted. '"If • the Australian Colonies," writes the reviewer, " had competition in the past, they have improved and increasing competition to face in the future. In Canada winter dairying is becoming a fine art, and that colony has the advantage of being only a week's journey away with a cold sea passage, the same remark applying to the States. Improved methods have been adopted, and are also being recognised there. South America, that is to say Argentina, has not all these advantages, but has others that make up for those she has not. What skill and knowledge can do to improve — as far as it needs improving — her dairy produce, she will do; but in addition she has comparatively speaking inexhaustible grazing ground, and with improved storage vessels she, with Canada, must seriously compete with the Australian and New Zealand grass-fed butters that a few years ago had the advantage to some extent of being unique on the English market." It is a serious competition, but there is nothing to daunt or depress our producers. It is a competition that can be met by holding firmly to all the advantages we possess, and seeking to improve on scientific lines the process of production, aud lessen its cost. The reviewer already quoted says — "Quality and regularity are the watchwords for the season. The difficulty in securing regular consignments is i one of the chief handicaps on colonial produce, and as yet the efforts in New Zealand and Australia have had little result." The most serious difficulty that we have to contend with is the question of transport. It is too large a matter for the producers themselves to successfully combat, and unless the State comes to their assistance they must contiuue as at present, making such arrangements as will benefit them when and ! how they may. A permanent solution of the difficulty is urgently needed, but it is not possible without Government intervention. Regular shipments cannot be made until steamers are available, timed to leave the colony and to reach London at fixed stated intervals. We fail to see how this can be secured without a Government subsidy.