DAIRY PRODUCE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 126, 29 May 1914, Page 3

DAIRY PRODUCE

A SUCCESSFUL YEAR NATIONAL DAIRY ASSOCIATION'S REPORT. NORTH ISLAND'S PROGRESS. The annual report of tho National Dairy Association of New Zealand, Ltd., for the year ending 30th April, to be presented to a general meeting of members to be held in the Show Ground "Lecture Hall, Palmerston North, on the 17th June, states that the year's operations compare more than favourably with any previous one. The profit and loss account is now in credit to the extent of £2709 15s 7d, an increase of £395 7s on the year's working. The stock in hand is less in value than usual, and is in good order and saleable. j Goods afloat at the end of April are also I less than formerly. Indent orders for the coming season in many lines have greatly increased, and this part of the business is developing each year. Marine insurance for the year is about £100,000 below the amount of last year. The membership at the end of the financial year was 150, as against 138 for the preceding year. This is a record for tho association. The future of the industry, so far as the Dominion is concerned, is assured, judged by the growth of yearly applications for the registration of new factories. During the year 32 applications havo been granted, as against 35 last year. Notwithstanding difficulties in regard to weather conditions and the high values ruling for stock and wool, the industry throughout the Dominion is making steady progress. VALUABLE TESTIMONY. The butter exported to all countries for the year has increased by 9.450 per cent., and cheese by 12.127 per cent. Whilst nearly all the North Island ports show increases in cheese, the aggregate quantity from tho South Island ports is not equal to that of last year. Evidently the industry is taking a firmer hold of the northern portion of the Dominion. It is' gratifying to know that the standard of quality is generally being maintained. Such a fact does not carry with it a guarantee of perfection. Complaints during the past season have been less bhan formerly. Probably the best tribute paid to the excellence of New Zealand butter is contained in the remarks made by Mr. H. H. Osborne, manager of the Western District Factories Co-operative Produce Company, of Melbourne, contained in his report on investigations in the United Kingdom regarding 'In- marketing, handling, distribution, and quality of Australian butter. He says: "New Zealand affords the most striking example of what can be accomplished by a thoroughly organised system of education and supervision. New Zealand butter is undoubtedly of better and more uniform quality than Australian. It has a much higher reputation on the world's markets." He then pays a tribute to the work of the Dairy Division of the Department of Agriculture. CHEESE. With regard to cheese, the quality for tho past season was a decided advance on that of the former. As to the prices realised for New Zealand dairy produce in the United Kingdom, from the shippers' point of view the results 'have been profoundly disappointing. The expansion of our export trade with Vancouver and San Francisco has curtailed shipments to the United King, dom. The reduction of the United States tariff rates on butter from 6 cents to 2£ cents has stimulated business, v The cheese industry has. now developed to such dimensions — exceeding that of butter — that it has outgrown the past and present system of handling, and needs to be readjusted on up-to-date methods. Reference is made to the commodious cheese store erected by the Wellington Harbour Board. During the year this store has been of incalculable benefit to cheese awaiting shipment.