MILK AND CREAM

Evening Star, Issue 23832, 12 March 1941, Page 2

MILK AND CREAM

SUPPLIES FALLING OFF DRY WEATHER AFFECTS PRODUCTION Supplies of milk to the city are falling away steadily because of the continued dry weather, but the situation has not yet reached a serious stage. The position is more perturbing as it applies to local deliveries of cream, and butter factories have been father adversely affected in their , production. However, there is no shortage in the North Island, and some supplies are invariably drawn from there. If the position in Otago deteriorates further, additional supplies will have to be brought down. Domestic consumers are so far unaffected by the cream shortage. In the last week or two deliveries of milk to the factories have fallen away quite considerably, and only a really good rain will now retrieve the situation. The drought-stricken areas to the north of Dunedin have been hard hit, and to a lesser degree the Peninsula has also been affected. It is the farms in these districts which supply the bulk of winter hiilk to the city, and unless rain falls very soon wintermilk is likely to be short, but in an emergency it is possible that sufficient milk could be drawn from southern

districts where the drought has been much less acute. The Taieri is in comparatively good shape, but the majority of herds there are summer milkers, only a small percentage milking throughout the winter. " _ _ The situation is described in some quarters as alarming, yet so far no great anxiety is expressed by dairy factories. Much will depend on the weather in the next month, and, although rare, there have been occasions in March and April when severe flooding has occurred ■ through too much rain. Dews and occasional fogs are of some very slight assistance in the meantime*