DAISY FARMERS AND THE BUDGET.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 401, 4 October 1911, Page 7

DAISY FARMERS AND THE BUDGET.

Although we have religiously kept the Dairyman free from all political topics, we cannot help congratulating j the Ministry on the distinct advance ! promised in the Budget for the dairy ing industry, and it is understood that the schemes outlined by Sir Joseph Ward in his Financial Statement are to be put into immediate execution in so far as the dairy business is concerned. A distinct promise to immediately put in train a course of instruction in soft cheese-making has been given by the Minister, and we have a positive assurance that no time will be lost in carrying out the promise made to provide instruction fur the more profitable use of the by-pro-ducts. Fortunately the services of a casein expert are immediately available, and we presume no time will be lost in securing his services. A whole season would be lost if one had to be secured from Europe, but the opportune arrival in New Zealand of a man with four years' experience in the industry in the Argentine gives the Ministry their opportunity, so that we may expect instruction in this important industry will also be put in hand at once. We are now entering on what promises to be the greatest dairying season the Dominion ever saw, and with these two important innovations dairymen may in many cases look forward to receiving as high as fifteen pence per poud for their butterfat. One gentleman, who has al-

i ways taken an- intense interest in i the industry has already taken i steps to see that no time is lost lin giving effect to the Premier's ; promise. In a letter to the secretary | of the National Dairy Association he ! wrote, a few day ago: "I am anxious i to know if it is not possible for your j Association to publicly acknowledge | the efforts the Government are mak- | ing on behalf of the dairying industry, and if possible to thank them for the suggestion that they have made in the Budget, and ask for details and particulars as soon as they are available." This short extract shows that the promises of the Government in this regard have been already appreciated, and we doubt not that by no loss of time will be permitted before putting them into immediate effect. The same writer continues in his letter to Mr Harkness: "Is it not possible to convey to the Government the thanks of the dairy producers as a whole, and I can think of no better way of so doing that using your Association as our mouthpiece." This extract shows that the promises are being taken quite seriously and we have a positive assurance that the proposals of the Minister in this direction will be given immediate effect to. What this further step means to the profits of the dairy farmers of New Zealand it is hard to estimate. For

instance, the statement that one gallon of forty-five per cent, cream and be turned into twelve and sixpence worth of cream would by many be j thought a mere myth, but it is an abso- : lute fact nevertheless, and so with j many other of the finpr branches of ! the industry to which we have hitherto ; been strangers. But it is in dealing | with the by-products that we most rej quire further scientific instruction, for | the high prices now ruling for cheese j threaten to exterminate the butterj making industry. It is now stated ! that "if the prevailing prices of cheese j continues, and butter remains at the | same value as the last two seasons, j we shall see very few butter factories | at work in the Dominion in the course | of a year or two; but if, on the other I had, assistance in some shape were ; given to the better and more profitable i use of skim-milk, the permanence of the growth of the butter industry might be assured. A very large industry is possible in concentrated and condensed milk that ia so largely used in the East. There is further a big demand in England for these products, and no doubt attention will be given to both in the near future. One of the first things necessary, of course, will be to secure the services of the necessary skilled assistance, but with Messrs Cuddie and Singleton to advise him the Minister in charge of the department will have no difficulty in securing the necessary skilled instructors. The Wanganui Chronicle says, in a leader on the promises to ssjst the indnatry." If this means the Government intends to give facilities by means of subsidies to : firms or others who are engaged in repairing foodstuffs such as sugar of milk, casein, etc., we think the money will be well spent." To this assertion there can be only one universal cry of "Hear, bear," The same paper continues: "The only way in which the butter industry can be kept going is for the Government to encourage the utilisation of the by-

products, such as skim-milk, etc., in the way we have described. It would be extremely foolish to ailow a temporary boom in cheese to induce the farmers to put all their eggs in one basket." There is no question, good as things are now, that the dairy farmer in this country should not be entirely dependent on the Britishmarket for butter and cheese alone.

The waste products, both in cheese and butter factories, could be better and more profitably used than the farmers are now doing. All these suggested improvements mean more money to the dairy farmer, and con-

sequently increased prosperity to the Dominion, We have ourselves fought for further scientific teaching in the industry, and in saying this we cast no reflection on the present staff.

We say emphatically now that in the actual wholesale manufacture of cheddar cheese and beautiful nutty butter there are no men in the world perhapg who could do better, but in the utilisation of the by-products they do not, of course, claim to be experts. It is in this direction that the future efforts of the Minister will be immediately directed, and as it is likely that these efforts will in a few years add another half million or so to the present incomes of the present suppliers, it is an effort that will be

gratefully acknowledged by every dairy producer in the industry. In conclusion, we cannot help suggesting that some of this new-born zeal is partly due to our own humble efforts for we have been shocked for mar.y years at seeing the valuable by-pro-ducts of the butter industry turned into such a profitless channel as the pig trough. We are sure our readers will watch the fulfilment of the Premier's promise with an abundance of interest.—New Zealand Dairyman.