DAIRY PRODUCE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 112, 13 May 1910, Page 2

DAIRY PRODUCE.

THIRD LARGEST EXPORT. The rapid development of the New Zealand dairy produce export trade within recent years has placed butter and cheese third in values of chief articles of export, wool coming first, and meat second. The South Island Dairy Association, in its annual report for 1909-10, puts the exports as at 31st March last in the following order :—: — 1910 19Q5. Wool £5,537,861 £5.380,193 Frozen meat ... £3,393,882 £2,639,316 Dairy prodnco £2,822,081 £1,695,050 In a review of the season, it is stated that excellent prices have ruled in Great Britain for New Zealand bntter, and good prices for cheese. Last year tbera was considerable dissatisfaction with tho butter owing to the presence, in many cases, of excessive moisture. Thanks to the action taken by the Government to check this evil, and also to the good 6ense of the exporting factories, this defect has been remedied, or at least reduced to a minimum. New Zealand butter has been at a hign price through the season, and, more satisfactory still, in high favour owing to its quality. SATISFACTORY QUALITY. Regarding New Zealand cheese, reports as to quality are also very satisfac- | tory. As a sample, an important London firm, handling dairy produce, in a letter said : "The quality of New Zealand cheese is improving each shipment, and the quality of its most serious competitor — Canadian cheese, ir deteriorating as time goes on, and many large retailers will be using less Canadian and more New Zealand now on to the end of the ! New Zealand season." This state of matters (the report continues) reflects great credit on factory managers and makers, who, it is felt, will also allow that the Dairy Commissioner and the Government dairy instructors and graders deserve a very large share of the credit. MINISTER EULOGISED. The present Minister of Agriculture, tho report goes om to state, is an enthusiastic supporter of the dairy industry, and it is to be hoppd that Parliament will support him with all the funds he requires to further extend the good work of this branch of the department he presides over. The industry, it is maintained, must keep on advancing and never go back, and it will amply repay to the community at large any expenditure judiciously made for its advancement. Very soon it will stand f>econd on the list of New Zealand exports in value. It is third at present, and eventnallv it may stand first. But its value to New Zealand in making close settlement not only possible but profitable can hardly be overestimated.