INFERIOR BUTTER AND "GRUMBLER."

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9142, 25 August 1888, Page 3

INFERIOR BUTTER AND "GRUMBLER."

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—The writer of the above slur on the Auckland farmers might Well be to attach his name to his contemptible production. I can only imagine that " Grumbler " is one of those individuals who has gone from shop to shop with his three coppers per week to try ana purchase hal£-a-pound of the best butter for that amount. He finds now that those who have been regularly supplied with first-class dairy butter at current market rates, regulated by "the supply and demand, and not by the cost of production, have new to pay a fairly remunerative price for the article. You are no doubt aware, Mr. Editor, that a considerable number of dairy farmers have been supplying Auckland with a better quality of butter than the Freezing Company nave ever turned out. This has been so much appreciated that " Grumbler," with ninepen.ee instead of his usual three coppers, cannot get supplied with Ids usual half-pound. If he will take a little friendly advice, he should give his order to a respectable daily for his naif-pound to be put on one side every week as soon as it comes in from the fannerThen when he comes to town from his usual occupation of fungus-picking and flaxcutting, he will not have to run about sampling butter. I would like to ask " Grumbler " why it is that the dairy expert appointed by the Government does not interview the leading dairy farmers and teach them their business, leaving the Freezing Company and similar institutions to continue making the superior article which he appreciates? Ib would have been well if " Grumbler " had informed your readers the source of supply from which the Freezing Company obtained the material to manufacture their butter during _ certain months of the year. There is a significance in the expressions used by ' Grumbler," which would indicate some connection 'with the cutter trade. If " Grumbler" ami other fauit-finders would try their hands at producing milk for factories at 2£d per gallon, or to manufacture butter at cm-rent market rates, they would find that the "shiftless ana miserably incapable crowd" - referred to do not receive anything like the remuneration for their long hours of labour that " Grumbler" and his class expect for their services. Unlike " Grumbler," I have had some considerable experience of the outlay, trials, and difficulties connected with successful dairy farming, which is generally acknowledged to be one of the leading industries of the col-sny, and not having anything to be ashamed of, I beg to subscribe myself—Yours, &c., J Atj.-tv Hillside, Pukekohe.