DAIRY INDUSTRY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2811, 26 August 1908, Page 21

DAIRY INDUSTRY.

IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS

SPEECH BY THE HON. R. MNAB. In an^ address to members of the Dairy Farmers' Union at their inaugural smoke concert on Thursday evening at Trentham, the Minister of Lands (the Hon. R. M'Nab) dwelt particularly on the importance to the dairy industry of the work done by the Department of Agriculture. He quoted passages from the report of the Chief Dairy Commieeioner (Mr D. Cuddie) on his recent visit of investigation to Europe, and, using them a3 his text, emphasised the necessity of meeting the new developments in the dairy industry by united action among dairy farmer.". Hundreds and thousands of people were dependent directly or indirectly on the work of the Department of Agriculture, and not the least in importance among the 10 divisions of the department was the dairying division. When this wa6 first started it had been the practice to get men from all countries as instructors ready made. The result had been that in a few years New Zealand dairy produce began to be favourably known in the markets of the world. v FOOD SUPPLIES. The financial upheaval in America had affected the London market for wool and flax, which had suffered a serious decline in price. At the same time butter and food supplies had maintained their normal level or had even ri«en in price. r< Compare this with conditions 20 years ago," said the Minister, " when, if anything went wrong with wool, there were bad times in the Dominion. We are gradually changing our exports until they are becoming founded on a food basis. While wool may go up or down according to Paris or London fashions, it is not so' with food supplies. If this country develops along the line of food supplies it J6 producing an article that must command money, and if the article is good we shall always command the top price. Food is the last thing that men economise in. If the quality is good, the market is certain. It is important that the quality should be the very best that could bo made. That is the duty of the department to ensure the quality of the produce." TRAIN YOUR OWN EXPERTS. The Minister then returned to the sub-joc-t of experts brought from other countries. The lessons learnt in other countries had to be modified. The climate, the soil, the breed of animal were different, and people could no longer rely on the

Canadian or the Dan©. Modifications had to be introduced to get the best possible results. Hence the establishment of the experimental stations at Palmerston North, MR CUDDLE'S REPORT. The speaker then referred in terms of high praise to the work of Mr Cuddie in his investigations on the dairy produce market and conditions at Home. His report when published would enormously modify the ideas of dairy farmers on the industry. The fact was that the dairy factory and the creamery were being misted* near the large centres by the necessity of supplying the increasing population there with whole milk. This was so all over the world. Germany was no longer exporting butter, but actually importing. France was doing the same, and even in Scotland farmers were using" New Zealand and Australian butter on their tables, and keeping their milk for direct disposal in the cities. There was in consequence no clanger of the Home market being overstocked from those quarters. CLEANLINESS REQUIRED. Mr Cuddie had investigated the condition of New Zealand dairy produce as marketed at Home, and he was of opinion, that there was not a single defect in it that could not he attributed to one catise — dirfc in the byre. It was the duty o£ farmers to help in the removal of this 'evil. They must provide for absolute cleanliness, and see that the makers .could produce an article that would be second to none. He hoped that the Agricultural Department could rely on the support of all in the great work to be done. — Evening Post.