DAIRYING IN SOUTH

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6632, 11 June 1928, Page 10

DAIRYING IN SOUTH

BETTER QUALITY DESIRABLE. EXAMPLE OF NORTH ISLAND. DUNEDIN, Wednesday. Tlie annual meeting of the South Island Dairy Association was commenced this morning. Mr H. J. Middleton, who presided, said the dairy farmers had had a fairly successful year, and unless something unforsecn happened, the prospects were good. The figures of production had fallen, butter having decreased by 38,000 boxes, and cheese by 4800 crates. However, the North Island had held its own, so that exports from the Dominion as a whole had boon the same. As in the past, the North Island had gone in much more solidly for herd production and testing. The quality was fairly well maintained, but it, too, could bo improved. In the North Island farmers were very much in favour of improving quality. In the South the farmers seemed to be up against the idea of an inspector coming round to their farms, but really they should look upon him as an instructor. The time had finally arrived when the system should be introduced in the South. The cheese producers, said Mr Middleton, had been in a better position, for at Home they had not to stand up against the same competition. There was a difference of 3d or 4d a lb. but-ter-fat between the two branches of the industry. Mr John Fisher said that following on the decision at the last annual conference to set up committees representing Southland, Otago, and Canterbury

respectively to consider the proposal submitted by him for tho disposal of surplus calves, the Southland committee "waited on the Southland Frozen Meat Company with a view to securing a contract price for tho handling of calves. Killing was being proceeded with at two works, and altogether the committee's experience with by-pro-ducts was extremely satisfactory. Another point in this connection was the production of rennet, and Mr Fisher ventured to say that in two years New Zealand would use only rennet produced in this country.