The Dairy Industry.

Opunake Times, Volume I, Issue 19, 4 September 1894, Page 4

The Dairy Industry.

MR KOWIN’S OPINION.

A. representative of the iEgmont Settler has had a chat with Mr Kowin and found him very hopeful of a prosperous season. Referring to the past, Mr Kowin said that the first year he operated here (three years ago) he.poly.did business to. the extent of £7OOO, the following year it increased to £BO,OOO, while last year Lis business amounted to £150,000, fully £IOO,OOO was in Taranaki alone. Last year Mr Kowin says his firm (Lovell and Christmas) handled fully 50,000 tons of New Zealand cheese. This firm is so pleased with the prospects of the cheese trade, that they Lave invested a large sum in. the Northern Dairy Association, of which Mr Spragg is the manager, and,, are now, therefore) New Zealand Dairy Factory pro--prietors. This will cause Mr Kowin to put. in part of his time in Auckland. this, season. Of the cheese handled by. Mr Kowin’s firm, Mr Kowin says the best was from a small factory at Hurleyville. The quantity was not very large owing to the factory being late in starting, but the quality was very prime and equal to the best Cardiff of last year. The Ngaire cheese was)also, very good, as was also Eltham,. Cardiff', and Stratford, some of the latter, realising a, high price. Ngaire and Hurleyville were much.the best of any handled by the firm last season. Mr Kowin spoke very strongly against 1 the changing of factory managers, sayjng that it did not give the factory such a good chance, as each maker was bound to make some difference in the flavor or quality of the product of the. factory. In many cases his taking this season’s make, would depend upon the same manager being retained as last year. Mr Kowin says the initial difficulties have now been got over, and- the colonial product finally established on the Home market. The question now.is, says Mr Kowin, to maintain the quality, and. there is no fear for the future. Mr Kowin considers the prospects for butter are not so good as for cheese, as large quantities are at present stored in London. Asked bow this agreed with the statements repeatedly made that the whole product of the colony would not glut the Home market, Mr Kowin said that was quite correct as far as New Zealand was concerned, but- to. remember that Australia had surprised everyone .by the enormous quantities she had sent Home. The introduction of refrigerating machinery had quite revolutionised the dairying industry in that country, which was now seeding away enormous quantities of dairy produce. Mr Kowin, however, does not think New Zealand need fear any permanent injury to her prospects on that score, as her natural advantages and pastures will, he considers, enable her to produce an article_equal, if not superior, to any in the' world if farmers will only take the necessary trouble. 1 Last season, Mr Kowin says, butter and cheese were received in London from New Zealand that the best judges considered equal, to any made at Home, This Mr Kowin considers to be the secret of success in the future. He feels, sure that if the New Zealand farmers will only send Home the best they can make, they will always secure good returns. Asked regarding the possibility of opening up markets in some of the larger cities and towns, such as Manchester, Glasgow, &c., Mr Kowin said there is nothing in it, as the whole of England and Scotland is practically supplied from London, and all the large firms have branches or agents in any town where there is any possibility of doing business. Mr Kowin thinks farmers shou’d be satisfied with 3d per gallon for milk. ‘ He refers’particularly to the co-operative factories. The proprietory factories can, he says) look after themselves, but the co-operative factories have nothing to gain by making the price too high. Mr Kowin thinks it very unwise to draw too large an advance, because it is particularly unsatisfactory to have to make a refund, whereas if will allow it a small advance means a nice little bonus at the end of the season. Mr Kowin thinks 3d a fair price, and that no co-opera-tive factory should go beyond it. He is sanguine that with proper care the coming season will prove a satisfactory one to all concerned.