NATIONAL DAIRY ASSOCIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3250, 28 June 1916, Page 12

NATIONAL DAIRY ASSOCIATION.

TUB ANNUAL MEETING

GROWTH OF DAIRY INDUSTRY RE VIE WED.

(From Our Own- Correspondent.) PALMERSTON N., Juno 22

The National Dairy Show is invariably the meeting place for all the big organisations connected with our primary produffs, nnd one of the first to hold its annual meeting was the National Dairy Association. This took place on Tuesday. Mr A. Morton presiding over a large attendance, including several ladies. About 100 cooperative companies and 20 proprietary factories were represented.

In moving the adoption of the report—the profit and loss account showing a credit of £4BOI 2s 9d, an increase of £1613 4s Id on the year's working—tho chairman referred to the productiveness of the season. Not only was there an increased output, but prices had formed a record. '-Never before had they been so high, and the combination meant big returns to the dairy industry. As showing the growth of the industry Mr Morton po : nted out that in' 1895. 21 years ago, the total value of butter and cheese exported from New Zealand was £423.624; in 19C5 it reached £1.695.030. in 1915 £4.637.201. and in 1916 no less a figure than £5.798,172. These figures were ample evidence, he thought of the growth of dairying. Rome four or five years ago he had stated that tho returns would be doubled within 10 years. They had, however, practically doubled in five years, and in a very few years they would probably be doubled again, owing to the greatly improved methods of farming, the milking of a better class of cow. and the greater attention to tho proper feeding of the cow. Figures that were published in connection with herd-test-ing were such as should convince the most sceptical as to the benefits to be derived therefrom. Regarding quality, ho elid not think this was equal to the previous season. Never had there been such a summer for high temperatures as was experienced in Janaury. February, and March. There was practically no variat : on of temperatures between day and night, and this rendered it extremely difficult for farmers to keep their milk in good condition for tho factory. Probably the result would lead to more attention* being paid to cooling, as milk well cooled did not go off in quality so readily. Moreover, as regards butter, a large number of factories had gone in for cheese production, whilst others had adopted home separation, all fending towards tho lowering of quality. With respect to high prices, they were duo to the restrictions of Danish exports to Britain, and tho retention of their butter by other Continental countries, causing a great shortage in London. Australia shipped last season only one-fourth of her export of butter of the previous season to the United Kingdom. As to margarine competition, that was great, but the high wages received by tho British working classes enabled them to live on a higher scale, and so they were better able to meet the high prices of butter. Then, as to the great price of cheese, that was due to its enormous use as an army ration by Britain, and possibly the Allies; also to its taking the place of meat with civilians, who used it in order to avoid the use of exceedingly high priced fuel which cooking meat would require. The shipping of dairy produce this season had been much better than was anticipated last year; but there had been a large accumulation of cheese in Wellington, which, he believed, would be avoided this next season. lie gave great credit to the Government for its assistance in oxports, and to the Overseas Shipping Committee for its efforts to get the produce away.

Mr Morton reviewed the increased freights on cheese and butter, and ihe reduction of tho freight on the former to 11-16 d per lb. Butter freights were increased by6d per box (3s), and subsequently were raised to 3s 9d per box; but, taking into account freight r-ites on dairy produce from other countries. they had, lie thought, much to be thankful for in their present rates of froijrht. Labour shortage was already making it self felt, owing io enlistments. Representations were made io the Government that something should be done tp retain sufficient expert assistance for the dairving industry. The Military Service Bill showed that that difficulty might ho met by exemptions of expert dairy workers. Nevertheless, apart from enlistments, tho dairy situation was bristling with difficulties. Tf they could not retain a sufficiency of experts he feared the quality 1 produce would suffer; but the out-

look nrght not really be. so black as it appeared at the present time. He moved trie adoption of the association's report and balance sheet, which was seconded and carried unanimously. Some discussion took place on a niot : on urging that legislation should bo passed requiring each dairy company in the Dominion to publish, within one month of the closo of the financial year, an audited statement of the business of the year. The motion was lost by 38 votes to 21. The retiring directors—Messrs A. Macfarlano (Pahiatua) and E. A. W. Fisher (Carterton —were re-elected. Mr Edward Allen (Cambridge) was elected to the vacancy caused by Mr Hubbard enlisting.