OUR DAIRY PRODUCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 1893, 2 March 1888, Page 8

OUR DAIRY PRODUCE.

EDITOR WITNESS. Sir,— When floating tho first refrigerating company in New Zealand, I suggested that arrangements should be made with the shipping companies to provide a cool chamber specially for dairy produce ; but until this season that was not done, as they feared the quantity made would not justify tho expense. However, it is now provided, and you can judge my astonishment on being told by Captain Boyd, the agent of the New Zealand Shipping Compauy here, that the Aorangi will leave New Zealand with ■100 tons of it, aud that he has engagements now to fill the next steamer's cool chamber also.

Knowing as you do the interest that I have always taken and urged on the attention of our settlers in season and out of season, you may guess the pleasure I felt ou hearing what Captaiu Boyd told me, aud I went down yesterday to see the condition it was being shipped in, as, from articles iv the papers referring to the quality of New Zealand butter that has previously been sent Home, aud also the account of it giveu to one of your reporters by Mr C. S. Reeves, I would be able to form au epinion of my own. Well, I did not see the butter, but I saw a few packages ; and if the rest was put up in the same way, I should much rather there was none sent, as it will only tend to injure the good name of New Zealand ' in the Home markets.

We have a climate, pasture, and stock (and the people, if they are oiily careiul) to make better butter than any other part of creation ; and, with the facilities provided for transit, our butter could and should be placed iv the Home markets in as fine condition as it comes into Dunedin from the Taieri, and put up in the way to command the biggest price, which it can't anil won't, do in dirty old tubs with rusty old hoops to bind them. But the time has now come when the Government should be asked to help us in this matter by the appointment of an inspector at the chief ports ot export, as I know they do in Canada.

Forty years ago no butter was allowed to be shipped from there Home unless it had the inspector's brand burnt on the lid, as follows: — No. 1, 2, or 3 ; and, if very inferior, the words unbranded No. 1, 2, or 3. And no matter how good the butter might be, if the package was faulty a cooper was kept to make it right or provide a new package, even if it was branded,.and the cost thereof and the inspector's fee charged to the shipper. I feel satisfied if this is done here and at once ib will be a great gain to the colony in after years and a protection to those who a/c careful and make a good article, and enable them to get the true value for such care, as then New Zealand butter will take a leading place in every Home market, and the quantity will so increase that by next season we will require at least half the space available for freight to be fitted up for its conveyance, as I mentioned in a former letter. Every steamer leaving kere in the months of October, November, December, January, and February should go full of our butter, as none of the countries on the other side of the equator could make any to compete with us in supplying their millions of consumers. And in a few years, say four or five, the Panama Canal will be open, whereby our steamers will be able to run the distance in J 20 days or so, and we then can ship it two more months ere they can make any there. Before closing, let me say that I would like your assistance and that of our M.H.R's in urging this question of an inspector on the attention of the Government, as I feel satisfied you and they and their constituents will agree with me in all I have said in its favour.— l am, &c, W. D. Sutherland. February 23.