BUTTER AND CHEESE.

Hastings Standard, Issue 171, 14 November 1896, Page 2

BUTTER AND CHEESE.

While the candidates who arc seeking Parliamentary honors are serving out these commodities in large quantities to the long-suffering electors, we may pause and ask, Is it all good? Butter and cheese of the political brand is always more or less tainted, but there are some who can swallow the stuff and feel satisfied. There is satisfaction also for those who desire to note the progress made by the butter and cheese industry. The genuine articles have made wonderful progress in a very short time, as the following figures, which are furnished by the liegistrar-f leneral, will tell :

" In IHS(> there wen? only >56 butter and cheese factories, employing 110 hands, and producing 274,G171b. of butter valued at ±'lol9, and 823 tons of cheese valued at 1'40,5 D>. In 1890 the number of factories had increased to 71, with 269 hands, and an annual production of 1 ,969,7591b. of butter valued at ±73,3 10, and 1,900 tons of cheese valued at ±'Gs,7lo. Last year there were 170 factories, which employed 256 hands and produced the enormous quautity of 21,330,7761b. of butter valued at £355,110, and 1,823 tons of cheese valued at £140,158. The value of all products in the years mentioned were as follows: —IKN6, £13,091 ; I*9o, £150,957 ; 1*95, ±'501,271. The wages paid last year amounted to t'10.157, as against ±'11,928 in 1890. In 188G the plant and buildings were valued at ±'47,513 ; in 1890 the value was ±100,123, and last year the figures were ±'233,00G.