POVERTY BAY BUTTER.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 25 May 1926, Page 10

POVERTY BAY BUTTER.

DEGREASE IN EXPORT. Tike export- figures for the distract wihiiob were published during last week showed d hn.t. there had been a decrease oi about 25 per rent, in 'the 'butter exported from the Poverty .liav district during the present- -seaxon. says the Poverty Ray Herald. Tin's, of course, was anticipated by all dairymen, and it is .satisfactory to find that the decrease was not greater. It is probable 1 that in this reispecit Poverty Ray compares more than favourably with Hawke’sBay d inring the present .velar, and dairymen there have probably suffered to a greater extent than have the men in this disbricit. -t The decrease in the output is not, however, what should be regarded as the principal feature of this season s returns, lor the improvement in Quality ii» relatively of tar greater (importance. Increases and decreases will always occur according to the particular nature ol any season, but there is no reason why in the worst of seasons there '.should not be a steady improvement in the quality of the product. That this contention is correct is proved .by the present season s figures, for the average grade has risen considerably, ami a number of the shipments have graded out at 1)5 points, which is veiV fair indeed. At itho same time dairymen here should not imagine that the maximum grade has been 'reached and that further improvement cannot, be effected. It m'-ay be pointed out that the Woiroa dairy factory this season has had pi aotioally no shipments grading out at less than 94, 'and! that the great majority of them have graded 95, While 95 has been reached on one or two occasions. The Waii-on- factory was. in the happy position of being second on the special list, of factories compiled by tire Uovornineiit. at the end of last season, and it may so happen that- it will top the list this season. The 'ambition of the local factories, and of their .suppliers, should be to see their own factories in a .similar position, and now that, facilities are at their disposal there is no reason why the quality .should not. be- steadily improved. Good work lias -been done already by Air .Seed, the farm instructor. land -farmers now realise- that lie is there to help and not to ‘criticise. Now that be is fully acquainted with the district be will be better able to keepin touch with those '.suppliers whose cream does not come up to standard and will see that his reco-mmendation.s are carried into -effect. Gradually the istandlaird will be (built up, and it may be expected that every year there will be a- slight improvement in the quality of the butter exported. This quality improvement is important, for with the increasing, competition in the world’s markets every i year it is necessary that New Zealand butter should retain its present unique position—a. thing that can bo -clone only if the dairymen throughout the various dtst ridt-s -assist the officials engaged in making -the butter (by seeing that their supplies are of the highest possible standard of purity.