NATIONAL DAIRY ASSOCIATION OF NEW ZEALAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 2205, 4 June 1896, Page 14

NATIONAL DAIRY ASSOCIATION OF NEW ZEALAND.

ANNUAL REPORT AND STATISTICS. Year Ending May 30, 1896. Our report last year dealt with our operations in the North Island as well as in the South, for oar membership had increased there at that period. This year, however, our report will confine itself more particularly to the operations of the association in the South Island. Mr George Finn, the secretary of the North Island executive of the association, will make a separate report dealing with the work under his charge there. It is thought best that the two branches of the association should continue to manage their own affairs at present, while working heartily together and co-operating for the general good ot the dairy industry of New Zealand. This was the decision come to by the committee after hearing the report of the meeting in Wellington of the North and South - Island delegates on the 25th July. Our efforts should now be directed to the drawing together of our Canterbury and other South Island factories and further extending the usefulness of the association, which, with the hearty ca-operation of the present members and of others who will join us, could certainly without much trouble be done. There are many things desirable of attainment by tbi3 association, but we must go carefully and progre»9 steadily, directing our efforts to that which is more easily within our reach, and looking forward to accomplish ali that the most progressive amongst us desire step by step. The asioointion has admittedly benefited all its members, and now forms a basis upon which, with the hearty co-operation of all interested, FURTHER GREAT PROGRESS CAN BE MADE for the good of all. It will ba our endeavour to touoh upon thia mainly with a view to having these matters thoroughly discussed and decided on at our annual meeting and conference, to which it is to be hoped all factories will send delegates. We invite not only present members, but all factories, to send delegates to. this meeting on the 9fch of June at 11.30 a.m. Mr J. B. M'Swan, chief of the Dairy department, will be present, and 'it is expiated that the gathering will bo suoh a strong and representative one that great good will be accomplished. The Government have greatly helped the association In the past, and would oertainly cooperate with and assist us as far as possible in any movements such a meeting considers to ba right and proper to further the intercuts of dairymen. The Government cannot fail to recognise that the question of the proper settlement of the country is intimately bound up with the success of the dairy industry, nor can they fail to recognise that in assisting this industry, and if possible making it prosperous, they ara RAISING THE VALUK OP THE LANDS OF THB WHOLB COLONY, a. very large portion of which is property entrusted to their care by the people of New Zealand, who are the owners. The Government have always recognised this, and so far what they have done has been well done, and at the present moment the system adopted by our Government Dairy department and the Agricultural department generally commands such respect from other colonies that on many points they are altering their systems to bring them more ob the lines of tho3e of our New Zealand Government. We are, however, progressive, and must necessarily be so in the f«ca of the keen competition we have to face from our rivals, both foreign and colonial, all of whom are being helped more or less strongly by their various Governments in developing and increasing production on profitable export lines, In days gone by all this was left to individual effort, and .Government help in such directions was not dreamfc of, but now it is becoming mure and more the business of every Government to directly assist in the development of trade and production. This is increasingly the case as each country makes further efforts to forward its trade, and New Zealand must not be backward, as ouc distance from the Home market is against us, whilst at tha sama time we have a country blessed with land and climate more valuable and better worth developing than any other country on the face of the globe, for perhaps there is no colony that oould, if properly developed, carry a larger population prosperously than ours. j THE SEASON'S WORK. The pmt season has been uneventful so far as the association's working is concerned. The contracts with the shipping companies have boon satisfactorily carried out, with the exception that some cheese is said to have been heated in the Kaikoura. This matter is being investigated. In the early part of the season the cheese shipped at Fort Chalmers and Lyttelton was not quite so clean in flavour aa it anight have been, a fact due no doubt to the wet weather and the consequent rankness of tha pasture. The off flavour was perhaps due to some weed, as the cheese had in many oases the same weedy fi&vour. Otherwise, generally speaking, even the early cheeae was aa improvement on that of previous years. As the season progre33ed, a marked improvement was noticeable generally in shipments, some factories showing a great improvement in quality on that of previous years, and London reports confirm this, saying that our best factory make can hold its own with the best Canadian, which is surely a matter for congratulation, and due in great measure, no doubt, to thachecsemakers' careful attention to the instruction given by the Government experts, whose aim it has been to iuaugurate a system of in mufacturing teadmg to uniformity iii quality, in which they have cartiinly made satisfactory progress. The butter shipments from Otago also sliow general improvement in quality as shipped here, aud London reports confirm this opinion. Evan the dairy and milled butter shipped to London showed a marked improvement iv packing and quality, but the less we do iv this kind of butter the better, as results of shipments continue to be unsatisfactory. The sooner farmers iv all places erect factories the better, i£ there

are none within reach \ or if within reach they will find it much to their best interest to support such factories and supply them with milk. The cost of transit on mediocre or iufarior | butter must always make exporting it a pro- i fitlesa business even at the best, and those who iv the past have purchased such butter, even at a low figure, have almost invariably made a heavy loss, and such purchases will not readily \ be made again. j A« will be seen from the statements attached, i THK SHIPMHSTS MADE BY THB ASSOCIATION this year to London from Port Caalmers of cheese, even^ with a slightly increased membership, are much less than in the previoas year. Butter, on the other hand, shows a slight increase. Last Year's Ship- m,. meat from Port vw n Chalmers. Yeai "• tons. tons. Cheese ... 2212 1627 = 585 tons less Butter _ 131 159 = 2S tons more | Our three Canterbury members dipped about the same quantity of cheese as last year — viz , 140 tons, Our association in Wellington ap- j pears to have shipped to London only one-half I of what was shipped last year, both of cheese and butter. We are aware that Australia has been taking a considerable quantity of both butter and cheese from us during the season, but allowing for this the Government returns up to March 30 show a shortage in the total export of tome 700 tons of butter and cheese on the previous year's export ; and it is abundantly evident from tha present undeniable scarcity of both bntter and cheese that the quantity produced this Benson in New Zealand is very much less than that of last year, and it is greatly to be regtetted that we are at present in most o»so3 not able to take advantage of the opportunity of profitable production now offered by the high prices ruling, and whioh seem likely to rule for some months to come. The reasons for the shortage of production this yi'ac may be various, bat mainly they are tha fact that, speaking generally, dairy men have neslectbd" to carry on thbir business on propbr links, especially in the matter of the care and selection of their cows. The severe winter last year told heavily on the cows which were bs-ckward, in condition, and they gave less milk and became dry scoaer in consequence of poor condition. This ought to have mide farmers consider the ques'ion of winter feed and Bhelter, bat apparently the lea.son/has not been generally borne home to them. The system prevailing of just milking cows during five or six months of the flush of the grass season is ruining the cows gradually and surely, and making them less productive ia milk, and the more so because no adequate provision is made for shelter and food during tha winter. We presume on oar fine climate, but it will be found ere the question Will dairying pay ? is properly solved that we mast make adequate provision for our cows during the winter, and carry on our operations in manufacturing at least during nine or ten months, if not the whole yesr. A few dairy men in New Zealand who do carry on this system will say that they would be surprisdd to heav that uuder any other system it could be a3 profitable. We must aim at carrying on the business all along the year, getting more out of the cows through proper treatment. There are other reasons why this should be done, and among them the fact that some British consumers say that whilst they like our butter and cheese they don't go in for it, not being able to get A KESUL&.R AND CONTINUOUS SUPPLY. The Danes and other European countries with climates not so favourable as ours keep up a regular supply, and what they cm do can be done in New Zealand. Indeed, muoh of oar future prosperity depends perhaps on this point, and it should command the universal attention of farmers. Generally speaking, it has nob been tried, and it is idle to say it won't pay until it has been tried. Reliable authorities among farmers and others say it wilt pay N and also that under such a system aloue will dairying become a really profitable and reliable branch of farming. In last year's report those matters were alluded to among others, but it is well that they should still be emphasised. Lasi year's report also indicated that we had A SEASON OF LOW PRICES to face, and this has been the ca«e especially with regard to cheese, 38s to 44s having been the range of prises in London for Otago and Southland cheese so far as we have yet seen' account Bales. Butter has ruled a little better than last year. In Dacember and January best factories sold at 100* to 108s, but have now come down to 90s fco 955. This will give a better result th-i.i c-t-eae, no doubt, butifc must be noted chat h'tA Aiitralia been able to supply tho British market during the past season with even the same quantity as her previous year's export, butter would probably have ruled quite as low as in the previous year. It is, however, worth consideration whether cheese factories shoaW not supply themselves with a plant for making butter during perhaps the early season and the latter part of the season. Perhaps the better plan would be to COMBINE WITH ADJACENT CHEESE FACTORIES to erect and equip a really first-class butter factory, making the cheese factory buildings do only the separating, and sending the cream to their united central making station. Iv this connection it may be well to say a word to existing butter factories, as well as to those intending to start butter-making. No factory can ever expect to make a really high-class average sample of butter unless equipped with proper refrigerating machinery, a plant for which — say, the Hall or the Hercules of the latest pattern — would cpst from £350 to £500, according to size, including coat of insulation and placing of miohinery. Batter factories where not financially strong enough to purchase such machinery should combine with other factories turning, their present premises into creameries and making one of the combining factories the making station, joining I together to purchase a first-class refrigerating plant. We are too far from our market to be able to make the manufacture of aaything but the highest quality a success, and it would be well that Government assistance should be given on this principle, for -even ware Government largely lo helu the manufacture of aecoad. '

quality produoe it would never be profitable to those helped, whereas if Government give their aid in developing only the make of high quality produce New Zealand will benefit in many ways, and guch expenditure will be amply repaid in tha increased value of land and in the general prosperity of producers. It is in quality that New Zealand should fight its way to a hold on the market ; quantity will come quickly whsn our reputation for high-cUss goods has been made. We have made a little progress on thesa liaes ; let us hold and ingroase tho good reputation we have already gained. THE DAIRY INSTRUCTORS AND INSPECTORS. J At l&st year's meeting it was resolved that the Government be advised to retain the aervicas of Mr J. B. MacEwan, and, it is a matter of general satisfaction that he is still at the head of the dairy section of the Government Agriculture department, and that his teaching aud instruction at factories and at the winter dairy schools is highly appreciated, and has' undoubtedly done much good. His assistants deaerve credit too. We regret that he has now lost some of the ablest of his staff. Among th?se Mr'T. M. Robbing is a man whose name will always be romambered as one of those who from the first built up and improved our factory system of cheese -making, and has left behind him a number of first-olas4 pupils who are doing him credit in New Zealand and the adjacont colonies. The next to reign was Mr John S*wer«, equally with Mr Robbina a man who has left his mark on the dairy industry in New Zealand from its very start. His pupuV names figure very largely always ia the prizs lists at our best stiowi hera and in Australia. Then Mr H. R. M'WiHiam, the able Government grader and inspector at Ot»go and Lyttelton, resigned. Mr M'William has carried on his work with vigour and intelligence, and was always of much assistance to those who were in need of his advice, and his place will tako a very good mau to fill propeily. Mr Busch, some time grader at Lyttelfcon, and a man with a thorough scientific knowledge of butter making, hAS also resignedj which is a matter for regret also. No doubt these men can bs replaced in time, but it would be well that the Government should always secure tha services of the besb men availab'e, and should not consider ktgely the question of a few pounds in salary. Bdfctor that our dairy education sb/iuld be carried on by a few j well-paid men of the highest qualifications ihin by a large 3taffi of poorly paidrnen of inferior qualifications. We shall never get the full value of any expert's work until we have permanent experimental stations, and it is to be hoped that ere long sach institutions will -be established not only for dairying, but as general agricultural experimental stations. One has only to glance at the reports of the various Canadian and American experimental stations to see thevalue of the experiments and investigations carried on in determining many practical points most profitable to all farmers. Agricultural and other experts can by their writings help us much ; but there are the varied conditions of New Zealand climate, soil, and surroundings which make the investigations and deliverances of even tho highest foreign authorities not to be depended ou 'for New Zealand work. We most get reliable data by experimental stations of our own. These need not be costly ; indeed, they should be run so as to be almost self-supporting. In the matter of THK REDUCTION OP FEEIOHTS AND RAILAGE your committee have done all they could without effect, 'l'hey have approached the different departments without avail, Our Southland m«iiibers have also been active, and have petitioned Government and the Railway department. They have formed a committee ta cooperate with us in this and other matters, and are deserving of thanks for their loyal support of the association, The3e are matters we must still peivevcre in, and all dairymen should enlist the support of their members of Pai liament. Perhaps a new policy of railway management is needed ere much can be done — viz., one ef making the railways the feeding arteries for the developmeat and prosperous settlement of the land instead of a policy of making 2 per cent, or 3 per cent, on the cost of railway construction and man^g^ment. The association ha.vo iasaed a circular suggesting certain MATTERS FOR DISCUSSION AT OUR SrEETINO on June 9, and it will be well shortly to allude to these, but it is to b8 hoped that members and delegates will coma fully prepared ta deal with them. The committee will act solely as in- j istrueted by these delegates,and it is to be desired J that the as!osiation should, backed by tha unanimity of its members, enter on a new career of usefulness to them. The list of subjects suggested commences with a mutual fire insurance echeme among factories, and is a matter, like the rest of the work of tho association, largely dependent for its success on the loyal and unanimous pooperation of those interested. The association made most favourable arrangements last year, whert-by the fire insurance on buildings and stock of members was arranged at 10a per cent. This arrangement broke down solely through the lack of loyal and unanimous co-operation, which is to be regretted. The amount to be insured on all factories in the South Island would tot up to some £50,000. A payment by each of, say, £2 per cent would in tbe first year form a fund ; and it is probable that after the second year no further payments might be required. It is possible that Government might co-operate or assist in such a scheme, as the subject of fire insurance generally is one that will probably be dealt with by them. The subject is one worthy of consideration, and it is expected that some light will be thrown on it during discussion. We may not be able at onco to carry any scheme through, but good will comd of tho discussion. The indenting of material is the next Bubject, and for some years past this has been carried on by the ataocintion for some members, all of whom are satisfied with an improvement in quality and a reduction in price. Some hays said they can buy cheaper locally. Thin may be so, but is the quality as good and even ? If this is so, it does not end there, for this is one of the matters again that all can benefit from by loyal and unanimous co-operation. Already the indenting by the association has cheapened the material in comparison with, what it was before.

The contraoti system oi cheese-making, it ft said, prevents m&ny factories from joining in this indenting. This need not he bo, for it can be made a condition of contract that material ■hould be indented through the association. And just here it may be well to say that it fs very questionable whether the contract system when it takes in the providing of material, boxes, cases, fee., is in the best interests of fao tor j men Maay illustrations in bad boxes, case? « papar, &0., come under notice to show that the contract system is not the best. The most successful factories, it can ba shown, get a good maker and pay him x good salary, and get the best cases, boxes, and material at a fair prico, and experience proves this plan to be the right one. We want uniform excellence in all point*, and the contract system does not tend in this direction. The question of a produce representative in Loncl >n in one tflut h« been be ? ora the asßociai tiou for soma titno, and last year tho Govern- ' i meut invited the association to suggest names ' of men of whom they approved, but none of tho names submitted were accepted. The GovernI raent appointed Mr Gray, lately of Coey and Co., and previously of Chrisfcohurch, who is now acting. So far as can be seen at present, not much good has bean done by this appointment;. The general feeling v in favour of one of our best men, who has had experience here, being sent Home. If auoh a man is nob available, better send none maautinie, but we think a man acceptable to all New Zealand could begot, and that much benefit might accrue from the appointment, Whether this man should go from tho . association in connection with tho furbhor extension of its operations desired by many members is a question that the members will have to consider in connection with their whole scheme of operations. Tho functions, work, and position of the secretary and of the association is tho next subject mentioned, find this opens np a largo question. At previous meeting* it was resolved that as scon as funds allowed the secretary should devote the whole of his time to the association work. Tho sccrf.t*ry haa expressed his personal views in an outline of them given to a prass representative, and no doubt members have read them. This is perhaps the main question at our conference, and one that men> bera should bo prepared to decide. The association sktmld- be registered at once under the Ooiopaniej Act, and could even with a nominal capital carry on work that would save members lar^e sums in communion. If, as before said, membara will unitedly eo> - operate, much ground could be covered profit?* ably. Last year a motioa was carded to tha effeofc " that it • i-j advisable to appoint tsro. leading firma iv London to h*Hdla all the produca sent by the assosia'Jon." Tbn ohould iotta part of the arrangement, for the multiplication o£ Belling agents h*s done much to lower our produce in London in price. The association should certainly, if posjib'.e, do aomethiug to stop this state of matters. It could, we think) by this means prevent the indiscriminate slaughter in large lines of our produce which now goes on. We have ample proof that the distribution of our praduce in London, mainly owing to our want of baing able to control it to some extent ourselves, is very indifferently managed, and that our bsßt goods do not get their full value, whilst our second quality apparently sell at as good rates as first. Butter and cheese of high quality, according to some London account sales, are of the same value there apparently. We know that some parties benefit greatly at our expense by this, as they get the best butter and cheese at second quality prices. This would be remedied if our own agents handled our goods, and some are oE opinion that our Dairy Act so far as branding ia concerned should be amended in the direction of causing the name of the district of manufacture to be put on the boxen or caseß, such ai Ofcftgo, Canterbury, Tarariaki, or Wellington. The difi>r*nt districts' makes are. certainty afc present different, and when our business is properly handled in London this difference will bo recognised, and the best will bring best price, which is not generally the case now. In facb, it ia almost useless for our Government to teach here and improve our prodaca unless makers, who turn out high- class goods get a return com-mi-nsnrate with tbe value of their work. WhilsS the Government is by its teaching, inspection, and grading improving and bringing about % uniform fine quality, the association must, wa think, do something to control the distribution of our produce, and they can do this. The local sales could also be conducted by the association, and prices better maintained, and the quantities held and shipped regulated to the benefit of all. Ample funds would be available for carrying oa the afsociatiou and paying all expenses if members would agree to ship and sell through tha aseooiation, as all commissions and rebates would go into the association's funds. Subscript tions to the association might perhaps be on a' - basis of output of each factory iostead of go much per member. Another subject is whether Government! should continue to chill batter. This at present costs the Government £d per Ib, and amounts in all to a large sum of money — practically a bonus to the butter industry, cheese not participating. Perhaps it would be well that Government! should only pay on .first-grade' goods, as thia would stimulate high-olass production. Thera really is no good of Government; helping people to make second-quality goods, aa the Government money is throwa aw&y and the makers oE such goods are not really helped, nor is the reputation of New Zealand dairy produce, whichi should be the aim and object of all such help 4 improved. The question of whether Government should erect and equip a dairy experimental station - in the South Island is another subject foe ' discussion. Tnis association by resolution last year answered this question in the affirm motive, and it only remains to be said that while we recognise the value of our winter dairy schools at Edendale and Stratford or Wayerly^ ' and commend the department foe establishing* and continuing them, they will not fill thfif place o5 an experimental station. No doubt ifij is a question of whether funds are at the£ Government disposal for such a purpose, bnkiti certainly would be a great benefit. The question? of cheaper freights aud railage hardly need to be dwelt aeon* These wo musfi

continue to agiUtefor, both through the association and through Parliament. The heavy toll on our produoa in the matter of freight is a serious question for all New Zealand, and seeing that the Government are largely interested with us in this matter we should command their assistance. This heavy toll on our produce retards and may kill our trade in dairy produce and in other productions. Tho Government are deeply interested in this freight question, and even if a heavy subsidy to a shipping company to lower freights were the only way_ out of the difficulty it would surely l} 9 good poliqy to pay it rather than see our agricultural industries, hindered, and unless something oan be done to remove this obstsc.'c tho Government cannot expect rents to' be paid properly. Iv fact, the whole policy of the settlement of the people on tho land is bound up with this question—whether ifc is better to stimulate production by en»b"ng un lo put our produce on the market on soinecbiug like the aame terms as other countries can do, or leb our industries struggle and go back ? All interested should help the astosiittion in their endeavours to have this question put on a proper basis, and should also get their parliamentary representatives to interest themselves in it. We have had a poor sasson ; but we must nofc by any means be disheartened. Piices of food products never have been so low in London for 50 years. At present the cheese market there is improving, and it rests a good deal with ouretlves whether matters are improved in the questions "tonched on in this report. There is just another matter, which is one tbat our membsra and all Now Zoalaud farmers and producers should stud/ and, perhaps, agitato on—that is/ THE QUKSTION OF AN IMPERIAt. ZOLI.VERBIN, or a customs union on freetrade lines between Britain and her colonies with a differential customs tariff on all foreign goods and produce. Eminent and practical statesmen in England and the colonies are turning their atteation to this subject, and, whatever may be tho reanlfc to the masses in England, the colonial producers must be greatly benefited it ench a scheme could be brought about;. We tiha.ll certainly hear a great deal about thi.j quc sfcion in the near future. In Britain we h&ve the British' agriculturist etroogly in favour of it, and the question that it will perhaps turn on with British statesmen is, Can tho Briish colonies nearly supply the demands of Britain for Iheso goeds P and if thia is found to.be the case the question will perhaps 'become one of practical politics, end certainly New Zealand could in a few years increaec her production manifold. Tho Hon. Joseph Chamberlain, Colonial Secretary, speaking on March 25 at tho dinner of the Oanad* Club, said that " the greatest of the colonies' common obligations wr.s imperial defence, and the greatest of their common interests, imperial trade. It was difficult to deal •with the subject of defences wiihout first dealing with the matter of trade. The true znllvereia — viz., freotrade throughout the empire —despite the involving duties against foreigners, might be discussed, and would probably lead to a satisfactory arrangement if the colonies were willing to consider it." He concluded that it would be so enormoutly advantageous to them that the general principle ought to be accepted that " between the various parts of the empire protection ought to disappear, any duties imposed being merely for revenue, not protection." This subject is one of deep importance, and should engage the attention' of dairymen and all'producers, and so it is not out of place in this report. CONCLUSION. T.n conclusion, although the position of the dairy industry is not so oheerful as one could wish, an improvement in* many respects can be brought about, we,think, by careful consideration and by then stopping ouo together and working and co-operating for cur mutual interests, and by all dairymen improving the condition and quality of their cows, for it is more than tu'pbctcd that we are feeding a large Dumber of Unprofitable cows.—l am, &0., Jambs It. Scoit, Secretary. Dunedin, June 1. Statement of Cheese Shipped to London fi&oji Port Chalmers from May 1893 to May 1896.

Net tons : 1441 tons 2cwt lqr. Particulars of Butter Shipped to London FbObi November 1895 to April IS9S—six months—from Port Chalmers. '/ , Dote. Steamer. Boxes. !/ 1895. Nov. 9 ... Otarama ... 394 Dec. 6 ... lonic .„ 12-23 Dec. 21 ... Kaikoura ... 783 1896. Jan. 4 i., Tainui ... 856 Jan. 18 ... Buahine ... 962 * 3Feb. 4 ... Gothio ... 440 Feb. 21 ... Buteshire „. 60 Feb. 25 ,„ ITifeshire ... JO4 Mar. 14 ... Rimutaka ... 243 Mar. 28 ... Maori ... 129 April 11 ... Ruapehu «. -60 5234 Het, 293,10f1b=130 tons 17cwt. Gross, 355,9121b=158 tons 17cwt 3qr 41b.

I bteamer. | iC'ses; [rss Iross ons. * 1895. My 24 A.u2o No 18 Dec 6 „21 1896. Jny 4 „ 17 Feb 4 » 21 Mr 14 „ 28 Ap 11 $yll „ 22 Doric ... Tainui ... Rnapehu lonic Kaikoura Tainui, ... Ruahine... Gothic ... Buteßhhe Rimutaka Maori Ruapehu lonic „, Kaikoura Tainui ... 333 113 908 1670 1614 1656 2391 2509 2960 2846 1714 1949 1341 420 60 22184 49800 22950 13M2L 239615 243130 237C84 316575 324274 427959 4-25795 245273 27<5986 187120 60156 8J54 54S0S 25312 146734 285285 269675 280625 382090 4014U7 476002 473358 273843 30SM2 206251 6t>907 9171 3645963 ton. c. q. 1b 24 91' 2 11 GO 0 65 10 0 14 118 8 2 13 120 7 3 7 125 5 2 9 170 11 2 22 180 11 2 9 212 10 0 2 211 6 220 122 50 3 138 1 224 92 19 1 IS 29 17 3 ]9 4 13 15 i )3225092' 11627 2 0 19