THE DAIRY INDUSTRY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13920, 3 June 1909, Page 6

THE DAIRY INDUSTRY.

ASSOCIATION MEKTING. Per Press Association. DUNEDIN, June 2. At to-day's meeting of the National Dairy Association Air Hunter movedthat it he a recommendation to the Government dairy experts to ascertain precisely why it is that New Zealand made cheese brings about £1 less per cwt hi the British' market than Home made cheese of similar make. The mover said the price of English cheese was 10s or 20s per cwt more than factory made cheese from New Zealand. The annual loss at present was roughly £130,000, and as die industry was increasing by leaps and bounds, the loss would bo a quarter of a million before long unless steps were taken to alter things. He thought more care should be taken in the way of cooling milk. Air Milne seconded the motion. Mr Cuddie said considerable misunderstanding existed on this matter. There was only a limited market for high priced cheese. In many cases highest priced cheese realised more than its intrinsic north, a fact which was borne out by the report by Mr Ruddick lecently. New Zealand cheese at home was largely sold among the working classes and it was replaceable by meats which to some extent controlled the demand for and price of cheese. Canada also came in with a large quantity and practically set the value for Cheddar cheese imported into Britain. The Home people had another advantage in the manner the milk was looked after by those who made the cheese, the conditions being better than average conditions in New Zealand. He thought New Zealand could raise the price of cheese by improving the milk supply, though she was .not likely to realise the prices they obtained in England. New Zealand's best cheese was equal to the best cheese made anywhere if it had the same treatment, and was held for the same length of time. The cheese to-day was on as r.ood basis as Canadian, and they had to thank the Canadians for it.

Tlio president said there was no necessity to put the motion to the meeting. A motion was on the order paper recommending the dairy division to place testing under its own supervision. Mr Cnddie thought the scheeme was not feasible, aim was too big l'<>r the < ; "- vernnient to undertake. It should lie stipulated that all glassware used for testing .should itself be tested lor accuracy, and perhaps legislation was necessary. The great hulk of the people were honest, but sometimes careless. Testing worked injustice to the farmer or company. He intended to bring the matter under the notice of. the Government at an early date.

The motion lansed. Tt was agreed that the membership of the Association be open to buyers as well as producers. . A. motion that factories be vnvitorl to increase their subscriptions by <jU per cent, was withdrawn.