N.Z. FOOD OUTPUT SLIGHTLY HIGHER: DAIRY PRODUCE UP

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22690, 15 July 1948, Page 6

N.Z. FOOD OUTPUT SLIGHTLY HIGHER: DAIRY PRODUCE UP

(F.AO WELLINGTON, July 15. Primary production for the 1947-

48 season is expected to show only

a slight overall increase compared with the previous year, according (o statistics available from the organisations concerned.

The tonnage of butter, both creamery and whey, made by the dairy factories ia expected by a representative of the Dairy Products Marketing Commission to be slightly higher than for the previous 12 months and a marked improvement ir. the 1945-4 G figures. Cheese production would probably show little variation, but, if anything, would have decreased. He said the position would be clarified when the factory returns were available. More than 3,000,000 cases of apples and pears were picked of which 1.000.000 were exported to Great Britain, said an official of the Internal Marketing Department. About 1.500,000 cases had yet to be marketed in the Dominion. These figures, however, did not take into account the sales made direct from growers to the consumers. Lemon Crop Holding Well

The lemon crop would appear to be holding well but as it v,-r.s narvested seasonally for a limited 'period of the year no definite opinion could be given yet. He said that vegetables, such as potatoes and onions, had been in good supply, and met with a ready demand. Contrary to expectations meat production for this season will be jessThe latest figures from the New Zealand Producers’ Board showed an overall decrease to dale of about 153.000 tons, and although lamb killings have already set a new record at some 500,000 tons, the mutton tonnage has declined to 2,600.000 tons, compared with 2.900,000 tons for the corresponding period last year. Beef production has fallen from 387.000 tons last season to 846,000. The abrupt reserval of earlier predictions and production estimates is considered to be due to the abnormal season.

The autumn drought resulted in a far greater number of killings for the time of year and a conseouent falling off during the later part of the season. Earlier estimates by the Dairy Board of a 3 per cent production increase have now been amended to about 2.} to 21 per cent, for overall seasonal increase in dairy produce.