Co-Operative Dairying,

Otago Witness, Issue 1892, 15 May 1890, Page 13

Co-Operative Dairying,

TO THK KDITOK. Sir,— ln my perusal of your valuable paper of the Bth inst. I noticed a letter re co-operative milk Bupply, setting forth the beneflts'to ba derived therefrom to the dairymen in and around Dunedin, signed D. M'Curriy, and as a believer in true co-operation I failed to see wherein the dairymen's benefit would be derived from— certainly not from a compauy formed on lines as proposed by your correspondent, D. M'Ourdy. I will, with your leave, point out such a company's defects : (1) Ho proposes amalgamation of all dairymen and surrender of their runs, for what?— nothing on*; to give someone a chance of a good billnt and giving dairymen less than half fr>r their milk than they at prebent get. (3) Ensuring complete failure .if the company by heavy expenses re waggons and rentj. (.'}) lie bail debis they would be met with all the same. (4) lie licensing all the dairies supplying milk. Wou d that work? I ihink not; beciuie if the demand was greater than tho supply from such dairies, what would their oustoiuera do ? Wait till frfsh dairies were licensed ? Really v pretty fix to be in. (5) The appointment of a medical heiilth officer. What does a dairy company want wit.h a health officer ? Let the proper authorities appoint such persons, for if he thinks the company requires such a Biipervisor he may bid good bye t-i his scheme and stick to his shorter hourß' agitation. — I. am, &«., Green Islaud, May 9. True Co-operation. Northern v. Southern Wheat. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — The persisted s attempts of Moritzson ana Hopkins in their weekly reports to (Umn the reputation of the Southern wheat would bu only amusing were it not calculated to injure a large body of far.ners who «re already suffering sufficiently from the low prioj-,' ruling. Siucs th>: abovu firm consider it their duty f^o inform tho public that Southern wheat is of Iksh vAirn by 2J per bushel than the Northern, perli".^ they will kindly lcl, the publfc kno.v th« line where the Northern wheat i.uds and the Southern begins.. It seems si range that none of the other grain brokers in Dunedin draw thb above distinction in their rcporLs.-— I am, &c, May 9. Fairplay. TO THK EDITOR. Sib,— ln answer to "Fairplay'a" grievance, we may state that our Market Kt-port. which appears weekly in Dunedin and in tbe country districts amongst the farmers, gives the correct state of our market m Dunedin, and we never had a single complaint from our farming community. We have not the slightest intention to damage the reputation of the Southern wheat or the Southern farmer, rather '

the other way, as we are well aware on which side onr bread is buttered, and wo can assure " Falrplay " that our account sales for all classes of grain and produce to the farmer will amply compare with those of other agents in this town. Your correspondent states : "It seems strange that none of the other grainbrokers of Dunedin draw the above distinction in their reports." Well, if " Falrplay " will kindly turn to your file of the 6th of March 1890, and peruse the United Grainbrokers' report he will see for himself. Again, let him turn to the United Grainbrokers' report of the 12th December 1889, he will see what is said about Northern and Southern wheat. Again, let him look at the report of the 9th of May 1889 ; and lastly, wo refer him to statistics and letter published in your paper on tho 26th of March 1889, wtaioh appeared during the time of the sack controversy : we believe it emanated from the pea of a local miller, and it makes several detrimental remarks about Southern wheats made by local brokers. It is a pity that such should be the case, but it certainly not the fault of the farmers in the South, but due to the cold and damp climate. Now we refer " Falrplay," who seems to know nothing whatever about what he is writing, to any miller in Dunedin or elsewhere who understand his profession, and they will tell him firstly : that Northern wheats are varying In prices above the Southern from Id to 3d per bushel ; further, that it takes from one and a-half to two bushels more of Southern wheat to make a ton of flour than of Northern; further, that Southern wheats are mostly thicker skinned and tougher than Northern, instead of being hard and crisp ; and lastly, that more of northern wheat can be pu' through a pair of stones in a given, time than of Southern. Of course there are exceptions in some wheats that come from the South, but we talk about the generality of the two wheats. Will " Fairplay " please take samples of Southern and Northern wheats to our millers and grain shippers, and he will soon find out about values. Now "Falrplay" wants to know the line where the Northern wheat ends and the Southern begins. It is evident from his many questions that he wishes to learn. Well, we will willingly tell him all about the line of "demarcation" if he calls upon us or gives us his address. Had he signed himself by hia name, instead of stabbing in the dark, the farmers could then have judged whether these inquiries have been made by an interested person, in their interest, or merely to injure a young firm by one who should know better. Perhaps it Is an envious opponent who begrudges us the big trade we are doing. In conclusion we ask " Fairplay" to inquire whether most Australian and English orders are executed from North or South Otago . The very millers in the South go North to buy their best wheats in order to make good flour. We are also agents for several Northern and several Southern millers, and we can tell "Fairplay" we are aßked for 10 timeß more Northern than Southern flour. Of course it is of little moment to know whether we report Southern wheats Id to 2d per bushel less than Northern. If we learn that it would actually injure the farming community in the South we would gladly refrain from doing so. Perhaps one of the Ounedin millets would answer " Fairplay " this question, a> we believe they are well awara of what they are buying. — We are, &0., Dunedlu, May 10. Moritzson and Hopkin.