DAIRYING IN NEW ZEALAND.

Evening Star, Issue 14635, 3 August 1911, Page 2

DAIRYING IN NEW ZEALAND.

ADDRESS! *Y HON. MACKENZIE. afternoon Ifon. T. Mackenzie, Minister ot Agriculture, delivered a lecture in the Victoria Hall to farmers in general and members of the Dairy Association in There was a fair attendance, Mr John Gray, chairman of the South Island Dairy Association, presiding. The Minister presented a resume of the

position ot tne uepartmeut ot Agriculture in its relation to the great industry of dairying. Agriculture was making great strides all over the world, and the belief was now common that it was the base of all prosperity. It was the aim of the department to do all it could to help the people of New Zealand to build up this great industry. To-day ho was specially concerned with dairying. During the past year the department had spent no less than £10,865 in assisting and controlling the dairying industry, and the Staff had be >n actively employed throughaught the_ Dominion. Particular attention was given to grading. The people in the Old Country wished a system under which they would purchase on Home arbitration, and the High Commissioner wrote out putting that view of the case; but he (Mr Mackenzie) at one# replied insisting upon selling on grade certificate. That was the only fair system, otherwise, as had actually happened with meat, ' the grower might be landed in a big loss if the goods were declared to be damaged. The plan of selling on grade certificate was by far the more satisfactory, and every effort was being made to grade carefully, so that the certificate could be relied on ind be readily accepted. Mr Mackenzie went on to tell the meeting something about the steps taken by the department to bring about a proper system of herd inspection, by means of which the farmer would know the cows that paid to keep. Pasteurisation of cream for butter-making had only been in use hero for three years, yet now nearly 73 per cent, of the factories adopted this method, and great improvement had resulted. He had appointed a representative in the Old Country to watch over our dairying interests there, and report on the condition in which our dairy produce reached the Home market. It night be argued that the representatives ■ of the dairy associations could do this ' work. but their representatives dealt | chiefly with the commercial aspect, and ) the Government’s representative would ; devote himself to the investigation of the j condition of our produce on arrival—a , matter concerning which there had from j time to lime been complaints. A large number of tests for the presence of water contained in the butter and cheese exported had been made. The Minister | mentioned in passing that a little while ago in Taranaki he had laid she foundation stone of tho largest dairy factory in the world. It would be replete with modem methods. It had been computed that it would take tiro truck loads (of five tons each) of sovereigns to pay for the milk supplied from tnat district in a- year. Tho pasteuri- j sation of tho by-products of dairy factories was one of the greatest .-trides made in the industry recently. Whilst he was willing and anxious to col operate with the farmers in all that it was possible, and desirous of consulting them upon terms of mutual confidence, he' wished I it clearly understood that he took up this I>csitkm: that tho depaxtment was not going to allow a few suppliers to destroy the reputation of the butter and cheese that was sent from the Dominion to the great markets of the world. Now Zealand was competing with countries that used ail vigilance to bring their produce up to a : blah standard, and wo ...

slacken oar efforts in that respect. (Applause.) It was likely rbat the coming oeaBon would see the introduction of skimmilk plants. The pigs fed on pasteurised nullv were, much more free front tuberculosis than these fed on the unpasteurised milk- Last rear the butter exported amounted -to 17,503 tons, valued at £1.8(o,000, and the cheese export totalled 22,000 tons, valued at £1.250.000. In addition, the locally-consumed dairv produce was valued at £2.268,000. This C-avp a total production of the value of £5.421,000. A large increase in the export of butter and cheese was" expected this year, and settlers in any district suitable for dairying- need have no hesitation in taking up that industry. The Minister went on to mention a suggestion by the department hat it would be_ an advantage to New Zealand to establish a higher grade for rutter, and to class as super fine all that •cored 90 points or over. In regard to the oork export industry, the Minister said he nad assisted this industry bv having the provisions of the Slaughtering and Inspection Act amended. Previously no concern which jdid not export at least‘so per cent, of the pork killed could get a license, to kill pork. He had reduced thai percentage to 25 per cent., with the result that a Large number of dairy factories were taking up the pork industry. He had also secured greater compensation for those whose animals were condemned. This year the export of hams and baron cams to the value of £32,883, an increase as compared with List year of over 4CO per cent. A fresh proposal bv the department was to give opportunities for the proper instruction in wool production of some of the veterinary officers and inspectors of stock—men who were always going in and out amongst the country people, and therefore in a position to give instruction on all matters concerning the raising of wool. In poultry much good had resulted from the. establishment of good strains, which were being largely availed of by poultry-breeders. As to the improvement'in the standard of our milking herds. Mr Guddie had computed that if our herds were brought up to a fair average standard no less than li millions sterling would come into this country without the total number comprised in the herds being added to bv a single animal. (Applause.) The department was endeavoring to secure good strains for the milking herds. Some of the Holstein cows at Weraroa were yielding up to the highest results obtained in Denmark. The Government had put some stock on the market, and hoped to put more on the market at Palmerston North Show. Some Jersey cattle had been obtained from Australia, and they were ar- 1 ranging for some Irrawarra cattle—throo- j parts shorthorn and one-part Ayrshire 1 which were spoken of as an excellent ' utility cow. good for both beef and milk, i Te had also commissioned Mr Dunlop to I Durchase an Ayrshire herd. In condu- I non the hon. gentleman spoke of extending the scope of agricultural experimenting in the South ; he gave a minute or two to a justification of moderate borrowing so as to develop the Dominion to its fullest extent; and be presented figures to prove that the abnormal prosperity of the Old Country gave reasonable promise of strong demand and goed prices for New Zealand's products. A vote of thanks to the Minister was carried with marked heartiness.