RECORD YEAR

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 29 August 1929, Page 5

RECORD YEAR

BUTTER AND CHEESE. • INCREASED PRODUCTION. DAIRY BOARD’iS REPORT. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 28. The annual report of the Dairy Board approved at the meeting to-day gives an interesting summary of the dairy year. Production for the twelve months ended July r 31 constituted an absolute record, amounting to 81,656 .tons of butter, an increase of 9.27 per cents., and 56,605 tons Of cheese, an increase of 14.3 per cent, over the preceding season. On a-butter-fat basis this increase amounted to 10.8 per teent. over the preceding twelve months, thus putting into circulation approximately £2,250,000 more cash.

A feature of the year was a substantial increase in exports to Canada. In connection with the expanding trade to ‘Canada it is announced that arrangements have been made with the Union 'Steamship Company for a redue. tion of 6d per box from the rate of 4s 6d formerly ruling, conditional upon the heavy volume of export now ruling continuing. The butter market for the year had. been good, showing much less variation than in preceding years in quality. The position was that New Zealand ibutter had never attained a higher standard than obtained in the past season. The total quantity graded nvas 3,214,303 boxes, compared with 2,922,629 the preceding year. The percentages of quality were: Finest 70,24 per Cent.; first grade, 27.47 per cent.; under first, 2.28 per cent. Cheese showed little variation in grading quality from the preceding year, the average for the season being 91.86 compared with 91.87. 'The percentages of quality were finest 29.31 per cent., first 68.86 per cent., under first 1.82 per cent.

The sum of £16,700 had been spent in Groat Britain on advertising. In the comprehensive development of demand for New Zealand butter and cheese satisfactory results were secured. The board’s scheme of gift butter, under which a package of 41b of finest butter was delivered to any address in the United Kingdom, was proving increasingly popular, the turnover having grown from 1497 packages in 1926 to 3845 in 1929. Under the board’s annual competition for trophies for factories showing the greatest improvement in points in each grading year, the follo|wing awards were made: — Butter, 92 points and aver: Golden RBav 1, United 2, Arahura 3. Butter. 90 points and under 924 points: Rodney 1, Katikati, 2, Alarokopa 3. Cheese, 924 points and over: Royal Bush 1, (Brydone 2, Belvedere 3. Cheese. 90 points and under 92$ points: Alaungatua 1, Mangawhata 2, Stratford (Huinga branch) 3. The statement of income and expenditure showed that .the levy received was £34,875 and the interest on the investments £IBB9. 'The cost of the head office in New Zealand was £7067 and in London £5292, making a total of £12.360, showing a reduction of approximately £6OOO from last year’s figures. The total expenses amounted to £27,088, which gave, after dairy research and other grants had been made, an excess of income over expenditure for the year of £5624. The board’s reserve funds stood at £33,943, compared with £36.905 at the start of the board’s financial year. The board’s report was adopted and ordered to be printed.