NATIONAL DAIRY ASSOCIATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14528, 20 May 1909, Page 2

NATIONAL DAIRY ASSOCIATION

. -^> The annual report of ihe National Dairy Asaciation (South Island) contains tin- following clauses:— The work of this association in the shippins of dairy produce at 151ml'. Dunedin. and LyUelton has been carried on during tho year without any hitch or trouble. Factories have responded promptly to the circulars asking for hooking.-; for each s'oamor, and have forward', d llu-ir produre on the day appointed for grading regularly and correctly in most cases. Two or three shipments From factories come to lilull' oil her without consignment notes or with the quantities in each Unci; incorrectly eia'od, this causing considerable trouble! and work lo get Ihe correct tallies at shipment "With I his small matter remedied, the present system work admirably, ami lo the satisfaction of factories and shippers. All shipments have gone correctly, mid new have, been shut out. The cases a.ro branded mostly with Iho "impress" brand, and some of the branding is poor, not 'being sufficiently impressrd. The cases done with the fire-brand look far more a-ltrstr-iiyo generally than Ihoso villi the impress brand. Tho practice of .--.nuli.ipr cases with the middle partition nol nailed lo Ihe bullous is rather 100 prevalent, and this ina'tor should bo. remedied at onco, for it is certain that a small portion of the iiiscs may be slowed on end in tho steamc-s, and also on arrival in London may bo .so slowed for a considerable time. If the iriddlc partition is not nailed, tho cheese porta inly .suffers from Ihe weight of tho olnviso above, causing soilness, and even vol tonnes', of the lop of the lower cheese in tho case. Complaints regarding cheese being soil, and spongy on top have frequently come frcul London buyers. In most <-as"s (he dividing board is too thin lo hold nails. A thicker hoard should bo provided, and this, well nailed. will stroiiglh/Mi the case, and bo belter in every way. Quality of Cheese. The quality of the cheese shipped at, Lyltellon, Willi', and Dnuedin shows considerable improvement, and Ihe quantity of second grade, although small last year, is still smaller this season, aiid the cheese is becoming more uniform in character and quality. The Kuapohu, l'apanui, ami Turakina ioaded their cheese at Bluff and Dnuedin. All other shipment; were carried to LyUchon or Wellington by the Union S.S. Company and Hmldart-Parker steamers. This work was carried out carefully with a minimum amount of breakago, and in almost every case clean bills of lading worn issued, the exceptions being in cases of rat-eaten cheese, and even in this the cases were few and far less than last- season. The Dairy Regulations. The dairy regulations and the scheme for the improvement of tho milk supplied lo factories have boon discussed often by this association's members. Mr Clifton, the Chief Inspector of Stock, on two occasions addressed the members of the association, and apparently satisfied them that the methods ho intended to adopt in carrying out this scheme were not to bo oppressive, but distinctly for Iho guod of tho industry and the dairy-farmers also. This work was initiated by (jovornment at tho often-repeated requests of the dairy-far-mers of New Zealand at their various assemblies, and among them nono were more prominent in their urgent requests to Government on the matter than tho farmers of Southland and Otago. At tho great gathering of North Island dairymen at l'almarslon North, when tho Minister. o[ Lands outlined his scheme to them, general approval was expressed by all present, and tho scheme was welcomed by experienced men as one that would help and improve tho dairy industry and its products. At election timo lately these regulations were much discussed, a great deal of talk on the subject being for electioneering purposes. This subsided when the elections wore over. Mostly these talkers neither knew nor cared much about the subject.

Tn February the members of this association mot at Invcrcargill, and the dairy regulations were fully discussed. A motion that the regulations were oppressive and unnecessary was rejected, anil motions wore passed that these dairy regulations should be given a. fair trial. A motion also was passed to the effect that the regulation.; bo carried out under tlio dairy division of the Agricultural Department. This association had always been in i,;vour of the Dairy Department having charge of (his work, and this matter has been frequently represented to Government. Whether, however, this can be done or not remains lo ho ?ecn. Mr Clifton. Chief Jnspcclor of Stock, lias for years had charge of the stall' looking after the inspection of tho milk supply to towns for human consumption, and probably Government may find it less expensive to leave tins matter in Mr Clifton's charge. There is little doubt, Mr Clifton's I act and ability being well known, that the work will be as well carried out, and with as little friction, under his charge as under the Dairy Commissioner's. The great matter is to got to work and carry out improvement where needful.

The agitation on this matter lias already done good, tor very considerable improvement has been made. Dairy-farmers have discussed matters among themselves, and given considerable thought to it. Probably 80 per cent, of the dairymen of New Zealand are very inuoh alive to the need for clean milk being supplied to factories, and have done their best l-o meet it. The other 20 per cent, just want educating and waking up. Let no one suppose this 20 per oc-nt. aro in the back-blocks on new country, for, generally speaking, the settlors on the back-blocks aro doincr' excellently. I hose who lag behind are more often ojet settlors with conservative id ca9 011 this subject.

llns association held a- conference at Lyltoltou in March, and there the dairy regulations wefo. the chief topic of discussion. There, again, a motion was par.;ed-"That those regulations bo given a fair trial." At both meetings the stock inspectors and the Dairy Commissioner were present, and fijly explained matters. It remains now for dairy-farmers to work wit.li the inspectors and do their best to gradually improve our methods and our milk supply whore this is needful, and probably theso inspectors, or rather instructors, under Mr Clifton will ho as popular as the imlrucfcrs under MrCiukiie are now, and time was when these were not popular. But they are deservedly popular now with both manufacturers anil dairymen, to whom they arc aljvavs helpful, and the general improvement" of our dairy produce is sufficient testimony to the valuo of I he good work dono by' Government through the dairy division. Kogistration of the Association For seme veins past, many members of the association have been in favour of the registration of tin's association as a corporate body with a view fo indoiiling dairy requisites and carrying on work for the membras in oilier way that might, it is believed, save them money. Nothing can bo done in these directions till the association is registered, and it' would need something in the way of capital paid up or underwritten by the members to do this, legislation was expected that might remove some difficulties that slaml in tbo way—viz., that the articles of association of several factories preclude them doing this. As no legislation is probable that will remove such difficulties, it remains for factories to aller thoir articles of association to register on lines similar to that of the National Dairy Association of the North Island. The legal work to carry this out would cost some £50. 'J'iio work of the secretary would lie considerably increased, bid undoubtedly (he association could be made more useful if members arc willing. At present the revenue, as will be seen by the balaneo she.it, just meets 11i 0 expenses, and the association, considering the work it does, is not a heavy tax on the dairy factories of Canterbury, Otago, and Southland, whom it serves. Temperature of Cool Chambers. After the first two shipments of cheese the temperature of the cheese chambers in steamers was raised for a lime-, at first with excellent results, the cheese landing in Ixmdon in better condition than ever beforc-so it was said by several London consignees. ]jy cable and leiior we learn thai the Kaikoura a.nd I'apanni dfd not land ilie cheese in good order, and it is said, iluii the clKese on those vessels was carried at too high a temperature. If this cheese was carried at a temperature not •'.vec-tding 60dog b'ahr.. it could liave suffered no damage, uml if damaged the temperature must have been rscmsiderably above yXleg. As no self-registering thermometer is carried on these steamers, wo have no moans of knowing wheiher the temperature was too high or n:it. This association k-d season p;:.->d a resolution in favour of (ioveriiineiit providing a thermograph in learners' chambers, to be inspected before luring New //'aland, and read and re--...ird.-d bv the dairv expel I at Home. This io still very desirable, but the shipping companies <lo not welcome any such in':.r.\;i:ion. Mr Cuddle, when at Home, incjuircd into this matter, ,-jkl cwiicrrej with

experts in London, and there seems little doubt that the action taken in raising the temperatures up to a certain dale was right enough provided the temperatures wore properly kepi. Mr Cameron, of the High Commissioner's staff, has givoii this mailer some attention ami made investigations, and his opinion is that Ihe following are desirable temporalities:— 55 to Wtlog till second week in January. 50 to 55deg third week in January to cud of February. 45 lo 50dog March to end of season. This is very much the same as Mr Cuddie advised. This mat tor is of importance to members of this a/ssoeiat-ion, as it is our association, along wiili the North Island Association, that" holds and manages the London shipping conliacß Exports of Produce. The Government statistics show that the exiiorl of dairy produce compares favourably with last year The figures for Ihe year ending March 31 are: — Butter. Cheese, cwt. cwt. Iflffl 273.074 .. 310,057 lflOS 271,32) .. 282,673 Increases—Butter, -tGSlcwt, equals 23'2£ tons; Cheese, 27.414cwt. equals 1,3701 tons. , The returns to end of 'May will show a. much greater increase on the previous year, when, from February onward, iho summer was very dry and feed burnt up, This season has lieeii a. good productive one all through, and all over (he colony it lias lwen one of the best dairying seasons we have ever had. Australian exports of butter to London this season woro some 6000 tons less than last season, mainly due to the lessening of the Victorian output through previous had weather, conditions depleting the dairy hetde. Ku|. Australia inakos wonderfully quick recoveries, and next season may prove this in a surprising manner, as has often been' the ease More. Argentina shows an increase of about 1000 tons in h«*r export of but tor this season. Australia, docs not do much in cheese exporting and Argentina nothing. The tables given at the end of ibis report show that the shipments of boih butter and ehotto under thi6 association's direction arc greater than last season: cheese from the Bluff and Lyttelton,-and in butter from Lyltolton also. The butter export from Dnuedin increased by 1771 boxes (44 Ions), ami from Lyltellon 5593 boxes (140 tons). No butter goes from the Bluff; the factories m Southland only make olieese for export. The Taitwi and Peninsula Company, the only but for factory exporting from Utago, slopped shipping early in February, and stored more heavily than usual for their large local winter trade. They also have a very large regular export trade with South Africa, and ship to London but a very small portion of their butter—viz., the heavy part of the surplus during tho Hush of tho season, up to the end of January. The Canterbury butter factories also stopped shipping early, and stored for the winter trade. They litre- Ihe Taieri and Peninsula Company, have a large local trade, which absorbs the great bulk of their make of butter. The British Markets. A few words may be said as to tho position in Great Brition, our main market for both butter and cheese, and our position in comparison with other supplying countries. The total imports of butter into tho United Kingdom for the year ending June 30, 1908, from all sources, including the colonies, was 201,134 tons, or some 1800 tons kss than tho previous year, and the imports for the following eight mouths, to Ma.rcb, 1909, also 6bow a decrease of 3751 tons on the corresponding period for previous year. Argentina, Denmark, Russia, France", Holland, show slight mcrea6cs, whilst United States, Norway, Germany, and Belgium 6ho\v decreases. Canadian imports of butter are very much less than over before. The imports of cheese into tlw United Kingdom for year ending Juno 30, 1903, were 118,595 tons, or some 7000 tons less than in the previous year. Out of tbis 118 595 tons Canada contributed 81,428 tons and New Zealand 13,592 tons, Holland, virh 13 397 tons, being tho only other large contributing countrv. Belgium, Franco, and tho United States, together contribute about 10.000 tons. For the eight months from Juno 30, 1908, to March 31, 1909, tho imports are less by 3744 tons than in the corresponding eight months of the previous

>C From the above figure-: it will be feen thai- if the butter and cheese markets have Immi unsatisfactory to buyers this season the cause is not over-importation, and those figures also show that owing to tho decreasing imports there is amnio room for increased exports of both cheese and but tor from New Zealand and the other British colonics. The Canadian decrease in cheese exports has continued since 1904, am! 6oeni6 permanent, itnd leaves room for New Zealand to further greatly increase her cheese export.

It seems evident that at any rate some London merchants-anil among t hem somo of the largest and most experienced in the produce trade—believed there would be a short supply, and that high prices would rule in London during this season, for they paid in New Zealand the highest rates that had ever been paid. Butter outputs, September to .March (inclusive), and in some cases to em! of April, sold at lid to Hid, f.0.b., and cheese, October to April outputs (inclusive), at from 6d to 6Jd, f.0.b., and most factories in New Zealand sold at these rates, and so have had a very good time. Those who consigned, unfortunately, will realise considerably less than those who sold. The markets in London this season have proved a great disappointment to both buyers and consignors. Butter has proved' very disappointing, and cheese also, but as "the cheese market is now improving and many shipments are yet unsold, it is possible, that cheese buyers may yet coinu out without much loss, and consignors far belter than looked possible a short time ago, Excessive Moisture. Very bad trudo and unemployment all over _vhe United Kingdom affected cheese especially as a working man's food, and butter also suffered to a large extent from the same causes It is also said that the price of New Zealand butter sutfered from tho excessive moisture it often contained. Many complaints have conic from London regarding this. Several >,'cw Zealand factories' butter has, it is said, shown moisture contents of from 15 to 17 per cent.

There have been prosecutions of merchants for sclhng batter with excessive >noistur>< and most of the large merchants now keep a testing apparatus, like .Nicholl's sensible liiotGtui'o test, costing; £3, with which thev

test all their purchases. All other countries have been increasing their moisture in butter, and New Zealand is not alone in Ibis. But buyers and users are awake now on this matter, and we shall probably have a moisture contents clause in a |i butter contracts text year, ami the (•overniuent, will be oiled upon probably to certify as to moisture, as well as quality, in their grade note:.

Now Ziulmd butler lias suffered in reputation for the lirst lime, and this is a serious mailer. Although Continental butter-makers putting their butter on the market within a week after manufacture might not find quality deteriorate, it is different with Now Zealand butter, taking two months to got to the market, and probably the greatest harm by excessive, moisture is that the quality suffers.

Value of Produce. The value of dairy produce exported from Aew Zealand for tho year ending Starch 31, 1909, is set down in the Government satisfies at £2,287,759. This is nearly double what it, was in 1901. Woo) is our »'os' valuable, the export at March 31 beiim valued at £6.063,436. Frozen meat, vaincd at £3,078,029, comes second. Dairy produce is_ third now, but at, ike present rata 01 lis increase annually, whilst wool and Irozen meat remain about Ihe same, ihe prediction n,ad 0 by Sir .'loseph Ward a t last winicf show that the daily produce «port from !*<.„. Zealand would ere long ><- the latest of our exports mav not take so long to be fulfilled as some, th'mk iliere will be several now factories'in "■ago, Canterbury, and Southland next season, and also in other parts of New Zealand. 'the«, will ho , nain ] v e]lcesa f ac . tones, as cheese has paid suppliers best, f„ r wine yearn .back, and it looks as if it, »■* lo continue doing 60 . M thoK 5 ",,, more room for e ),eeso in the British markets and ol.cc« h„ „„ foe to hec ' subsltto* ,ko butler has in n ,ar ga , i e American "tilled" cheese has been Med 'ie w. I have nono of it at any price and V he^r ,^ eSoS,,i,S ■ I,i,,fi - , '-

Prospects. Ars; lM,fur ' ,,e,iaii^» j *' nun' tmf; a "'- aro ™™™E<ng, and the C ■ at , ° !"""' ovo * ° " uuli| y.« ™ tld so «,„ if,^" 0 V"*?* and, until v .11 ° t,I,S 0 " d . factor .V «">! milk I,? 3 !,' lhC - V J™?' ,s cloi »>. «'° rest -t,d «?»?'•■ a ' K "*' wi " d ° '"'i ..net they certainly ]i ave „i von „, win. lheso men deserve great credit fn, SnS™' to ( ? houldbo . o 'B |u ''»«l.Miu wnnuik and oilier-countries. Tola! Shipment, oFlultcr and cl)Mga fe London from all jfe w Zealand Ports treason 1008-130!). ' Date of t, Departure. SW. ]j™ g« n 1 24 0 -^ on ? anro •• 5,627 Xov i ' .™ m & .. 21,370 3,272 =-Athome .. 33j674 682 Dec. S-Corinthic .. 45 or» 1R ? R " m-Vol™ re ' - *- 467 -°ra » Jl—Aotea .. 9 OOP ' Jan. .. 5?07S 19,710 - a „ -t-—Wliakatane _ ~ , 7 - >i 25—Athenic .. .. 00011 IV-1.. April 8-p.p.™ .. .. |3 m" .. G. 037 33 o*l M»y .. ~ a . 73fi ..s IS Il,CrCa£e 118,615 65,316 * Arawa and Hinmlaka shipments estimated. Cheese Sliipments from BhUI and Dunedin to London, Season 1908-190 D. v, Dunedin. hteamsr. Casc« f.,. . lsparoa .. .. 2,66 d .., 711 Connt-hic .. .. 3,777 3 g G Uuapehu .. .. 4,126 j 360 Hsiwcra .. .. 3,991 lm Kiinuliika .. .. 4,397 l';Ml \; Mmi 4,100 . 1',459 ivaikoimi .. .. _ COQ }"" c .. 3,5-19 1.070 lurakma, .. .. 3,gai . jo H At-henic ~ m j" M taparoa .. .. 3.740 1!H Corinthio .. .. 0710 '„,. Huapehu . . 2.945 ' 70° a ™ .•-, '•• •• 2.374 " m ttimutaka* .. ~ 2.000 m ? ot "' 51,831 Tajm Jjast year .. 38,213 85 01 Increase .. .. 13,021 .'. 7,053 ' Eimntaka sliipnienf. estimated. Butler Shipments from Dunedin to London Season 1908-190 a. ' Transhipped at Wellington Transhipped at Lyltelton .. .. .. 0,912 10,912 Last year ~qT7i Increase .. .. .. ""]. ;; \^ Total Shipments Butter and Cheese from all -Aew ZcilajKl Ports to West of England, Season 190S-1909. n„f» o. Boxes Cases Uc. 2i>—Oswestry Grange 120 409 iNov, lfr-Rippjugham. Grange . 405 , o:n Dec. 30-Devon .. S J(H n^G aan. .. 0,190 3.207 ««g :: :: fsg April 30-Drayton Grange 72i) 2.'-*OO 9.56S 17,80!) Last ) ,ear 10,120 29.479 Dmrase -~%W TIToTO Cheese Shipments from Bluff and Dunedin lor West ot England, Season 1908-1903. li'.nS. Dunedin. Usnostry Grange . .. 249 03 Rilipmgliam Grange .. 9(0 70 J . ) . evnn , 'm CD lUorayslure ... 73 Cornwall 975 -j Filestore gcj 04 Drayton Grange .. .. 77(1 M 5733 411 btlst :«« 5269 6255 -169 5311 , . (Increase) (Decrease) Shipments Butter and Cheese from Lyttolton to London, Season ISO3-19TO. Boxes Cases Butter. Cheese. Turakina 574 _ At-lienio 1.102 530 I'aparoa 2.M(i 512 Corintliic 1,044 400 Huapehu 2.778 5M Wniwera 4,3-1-1 CIJG Kiiiiufaka ■ 3.097 426 Tainui 1,525 B7!) K-.iikohra 2,557 747 lonic 9SI 488 Turnkina, .... 2U9 622 Athenic 42 40tf l J aparoa .. .. 21 458 Corinthio — 213 . Kuapelm _ 009 Arawa _ "JJS llimutaka* _ joq 21,410 7114 Deduct Dunedin butter .. 6,912 — Total from Lyttelton . 14,498 7414 hast year 8,905 43-23 I"«ease 5,593 3039 'fimnitaka. shipments estimated.