THE DAIRYING INDUSTRY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2086, 15 February 1894, Page 11

THE DAIRYING INDUSTRY.

INTERVIEW WITH MR VALENTINE.

Mr Charles R. Valentine, chief dairy expert for the Government of New Zealand, who is at present making a hurried tour through the Middle Island, and has just returned to Dunedin from the Bluff, was yesterday interviewed by a member of the reporting staff of this paper with the object of obtaining some information with regard to the dairy industry of the colony. Mr Valentine informed our representative that he intends extending his tour into the North Island as far as Auckland, and will also visit New Plymouth and Napier, after which he will present his official report to the Minister for Agriculture. It will probably be remembered that Mr Valentine arrived in the colony about a month ago, after an extended mission through the dairying countries of Northern Europe, the United States, Canada, New South Wales, and Victoria. His instructions during the mission out to the colony were to obtain all necessary information respecting the dairying industries in the several countries, and further to take particular notice of suitable markets for New Zealand produce. The result of his mission will be included in his official report to the Government. In addition to his training as an expert in the manufacture of dairy produce, Mr Valentine has the advantage of having been connected all his life with mercantile pursuits. Prior to his engagement by the Government of New Zealand he acted as special commissioner for the New South Wales Government, watched their interests in London, and reported specially on the marketing and production of colonial dairy produce, flis report is now puMishod in bine book form of about 100 folios, ano ia a wry valuable document, contJiijaing a vasfcaui^unt (.f £ 'fOTJ^&JaI.-Qi. i^^'viS. i.'wii-£I2£ a P pd '- a tho dairying industry." ~WhU«i nt H<..i.K-~v"n\'iyhs~ n.3ntioned Mr Valenfcin< i organise! a Trozea meat find produio exhibit at tbe impu.-i.ii jubtj tube, v/hit'b lias proved a very attractive stow, and caunot hut redound to the credit of the colony generally.

Coming to the subject of the interview, our representative learned that Mr Valentine is of opinion that the resources of these colonies are crippled to a very great extent on account of not being properly represented- in the great markets of the world. Having seen the best of the dairying country in the colony he cannot speak in too great praise of the luxuriant pastures, and is firmly convinced that with care in production and perfect transit nothing can possibly prevent the colony leading the market. One great characteristic which places New Zealand produce especially in a signal position in the Home market is the fact that we are able to supply the consumers with " grass "-fed butter in the depth of winter, for throughout the whole of the dairying countries of Northern Europe, and also in Canada, the cows during the winter months having to be " stall"-fed, the cost of production is increased, while the butter is not of so fine a flavour as that made from •• grass."

In the course of the conversation Mr Valentine said the greatest essentials in order to obtain a profitable market for our produce were: First, to adopt the most approved system of manufacture ; secondly, to use every precaution to ensure the butter shipped being of uniform quality and in its normal condition as near as possible ; thirdly, to ccc that it is fairly dealt with when it reaches the market. The fact that the Australasians can ship fresh "grass" butter daring the winter months placrs them in a signal position, and if the producers will only make their butter and cheese of a uniformly fine quality, there need be no fear of a ready market not being found. It is most essential that "finest" quality is the model to work to ; for though Australasia has th i elements in her favour in difference of season and the time of new grass for her cows, still it must be remembered that Denmark and other keen-competing countries are ever on the alert to learn the wants of the consumers, and are thoroughly experienced in the system of winter dairying, and from their skilled knowledge they are able to ship the choicest butter in the depth of winter, though ifc naturally cannot surpass the choicest Australasian "grass" butter. Although there is a differenca of opinion as regards the future position of New Zealand butter, many being under the imprefsion that it will sell only as " ordinary finest " or secondgrade butter in the Home market, still, with a perfect system of production and shipment, there is no reason why the choicst butter should not be received from New Zealand on the other side. Evidence of this is clearly shown by some of the finest grades which are sent Home. It will be absolutely suicidal to the prospects of antipodean dairy farmers to entertain for a moment the idea that England and other populous centres will ever prove to be profitable "dumpiDg" grounds for very second-rate produce. The hope, and indeed the existence, of the New Zealand dairy trade in the business centres of the old country depends entirely on the quality cf the produce exported. There is no room in England for a glut of secondary or third-rate quality dairy produce. New Zealand has this advantage : that; when her dairy season is at its height the British need is at its greatest Whilst other foreign supplies are meeting this demand at great expense, owing to stall-feeding and winter dairying, New Zealand, if she can secure a perfect transit of a first-rate article, may lead the market with ifc. The essentials are : a perfect system of land and sea carriage and a first-rate article.

Another point which Mr Valentine lays very great stress oa is a hotter distribution of our

produce in England and other large consuming countries, and he is of opinion that it is on 9 of the greatest drawbacks to the extension of our trade that such large markets as Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds, Bradford, South Wales, Birmingham, &c. are not supplied direct. As an example of the demand of the great consuming centres of the north of England, he mentioned that London itself caters for about 5|- millions of population, whereas Liverpool, Manchester, and other northern markets cater for more than 8£ millions of higher wage getters and better payers.

Hearing that Mr Valentine had a scheme for better distribution at Home, our representative questioned him on the subject, and he expressed himself as fully convinced that by its adoption it would lead to higher prices, quicker returns, and a more legitimate basis for our productions on the Home market. He also said, in the course of the interview, that we were daily losing ground through not having our products better represented in the great markets of the world. He strongly recommends a thoroughly practical expert in the manufacture of dairy produce, and one who is well up in the ways and doings of the trade, being appointed in England to watch the interests of the producers. The duties of such an expert will be fully dealt with in* his report to the Government. Another great drawback to the colonial trade, he says, is the fraudulent sale of margarine mixture as pure butter in the Home market, and he is endeavouring to get the several Australian Governments and the New Zealand Government to federate their respective dairy associations, with the view of bringing pressure to bear on the Imperial Government to enforce the existing act to prevent such fraudulent trading, which undoubtedly has meant, both last season and this, from 8s to 10s per cwt on colonial butter. It was, he said, to , be hoped that the amendment of the existing Margarine Act at Home would be passed, and if so it would have a greater influence in preventing the sale of such a spurious article. During his inspection of several of the factories both in the Forth and Middle Island Mr Valentine said he noticed a great deal of the milk had arrived in unsound condition, being affected by the high temperature. He recommends that the farmers should immediately adopt a system of aerating and cooling the milk before sending it to the factory, as it must be understood that the making of good cheese and butter does not rest entirely with the factory or dairy, but it commences in the production of milk. As had before been recommended, a system of cold storage at shipping ports, he said, was badly wanted, and the Government were now arranging for such storage at the several ports. v

Before the interview concluded Mr Valentine favoured our representative with his recommendations to the New South Wales Government, which he says apply equally as well to this colony. The recommendations are as follow :—": — " (1) That the most approved system of production be adopted. (2) That the produce should be brought in its normal condition as near as possible, which means a general adoption of cool cars in conveying the produce from the factories to the ports, and this I should especially recommend that New South Wales provide, as in Victoria ; and also that cold storage be adopted at the various ports on the other side to nrovont ovprbeating of the butter and fhoftse before being shipped. (3) Thdt the .hipping companies adopt tell-tale LUCli'AOJiieteis in the pcveral chambers, and ulsd that the^.ifioiV--tl).'>_<-iovoriiJm'ut and oUI. v ageuu:, to place ck-:t tadT-OOITCtprH 'Htho several chambers as a cheek. It is of Ihu utmost importance that a uniform temperature sho.iid be maintained in the cool chambers during the whole of thb voyajr. (<1) That the produce is carefully handled oa arrival in England, and especially on the quays, where cool chambers could be provided to store the bulk awaiting market at a moderate cost. (5) That the butter be more uniformly distributed in the several great consuming centres. (6) That direct shipments should be made to the northern consuming centres. (7) That an industrial expert be appointed in England, with power to watch the general interests and to keep the butter and produce well before the market. (8) That freights be lowered, by Government endeavouring to create more competition."