RECORD BUTTER OUTPUT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18080, 3 May 1922, Page 8

RECORD BUTTER OUTPUT

YIELD TO END OF APRIL. INCREASE OF 284,971 BOXES. FALLING OFF IN CHEESE. A striking record in butter production, in the Auckland district this season was assured fairly early in the season. The receipts at the Farmers' Freezing Company's grading stores during the firstthree months of the season indicated that with favourable weather conditions prevailing the previous season's fine record would bo eclipsed, and many interested in the dairying industry predicted that an output of 1,000,000 boxes would be recorded. These predictions have beeu more than fulfilled. The receipts at tho ! grading stores to tho end of April totalled j 1,026,507 boxes, compared with 741,536 for the corresponding period of last season, an increase of 284,971 boxes. In ' view of the fact that production is being I maintained to a remarkable degree, it i 3 | tafe to assume that last season's record i will be exceeded by approximately 400,000 ! boxes, which would haVe represented the j total return for a normal season a few I years ago. Last season's record output , of 741,536 boxes to tho end of April was j largely due to the fact that the record I price .of 2s 6d per lb. was being paid for all b.tter produced in the Dominion to the end of March. This season without t. c inducement of exceptionally high price, in fact, with a depressed market during most of the season, the butter ' producers have eclipsed their efforts of j last season in a remarkable manner. j During last month 82,189 boxes were received at tho grading stores, compared w th 34 620 re ened during April, 1921, an inc. ease of 47,569 boxes. These figures ind cite that a high rate of production is being continued during the late months of the season, and that the loss hi . revenue due to reduced prices _ will be I largely compensated for by increased p.odnction right to the end of the season. i Tho va'ue of the butter received foj- ! export to the end of March last season I was approximately £4,930 000, the price : paid by the Imperial authorities under , the requisition being 2s 6d per lb. Owing ', to the variation in the price of butter on the London market this season it is difficult to estimate the average value of the b titer exported this season. Assessing the value at £4 a box, or rather less than Is 6d per lb., the total quantity produced tlr's season to the end of April wou'd be £4,106.028. The quantity of cheese received at the | grading stores" th : s season to the end of April totalled 133,401 crates, compared lw"th 152,289 received during the corresi pending period of last season, a decrease ,of 18,888 crates. Last month 17.769 crates wore reeved, compared with C O3 j : during April, 1921, an increase for April j j of ' this season of 10 866 crates. The shipments from Auckland overseas I last month comprised 60.450 boxes of I butter and 8567 crates of cheese. The i butter was despatched as follows :•- Durham, 6800 boxes; Raranga. 52,950. (Niagara, 700. The cheese shipments were 1125 crates by the Din-ham and 7442 by the Raranga. POTENTIALITIES OP NOSTH. LARGER PRODUCTION PER COW. [bt telegraph.—own CORRESPONDENT.] PALMERSTON NORTH. Tuesday. Entertained at Palmerston North today Mr. Singleton, dairy commissioner, made flattering reference to the production of butterfat in the North during the 1921-22 season. He said that North Auckland had had a remarkably good sea- . son from the standpoint of the quantity of butter produced. The production of the district was likely to further increase as the swamp areas were drained and brought into profit. ' The same remark, he continued, applied. ' to a number of districts in South Auckland. The Auckland Province appeared destined to carry many more dairy cows ' than at present. / " An increase in the production of dairy ; produce has not only pertained to the Auckland Province," he continued, " but , has been tho experience of every other dairying district in New Zealand. Many ' dairy factories have had the capacity of? ' their machinery and plant taxed to the utmost. In some instances quality suffered . somewhat as a result, but speaking gen- • erally the quality of both butter and cheese has been well maintained throughout the season. It is.most fortunate for New Zealand dairy farmers in particular , and for New Zealand as a whole that, for this first season since tho war of comparatively low prices of dairy produce, the reduction has been made less severe by larger production per cow than ( has 1 been experienced for many seasons."