DAIRY INDUSTRY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20929, 7 January 1938, Page 14

DAIRY INDUSTRY

YEAR’S STATISTICS The statistics of dairy factories for the year 1936-37, presented in the latest Abstract of Statistics, exhibit increases in practically all aspects as compared with the year 1935-36. and new record high levels have been attained for both the physical volume and the value of production. The number of persons engaged in this industry during 1936-37 was 4318, or 6 per cent more than in 1935-36. while the salaries and wages paid increased by 23 per cent to £1,032.763. The cost of butter-fat, that is the payout. advanced from £20.250,183 in 1935-36 to £23,207.798 in 1936-37, or by 15 per cent. The cost of milk and cream cartage rose by 22 per cent, and the cost of materials other than milk and cream by 261 per cent. A substantial increase of £3,500.000. or 15 per cent, is recorded for the value of production.

Of the 406,841.9581 b. of butter-fat received by dairy factories during 1936-37, 79.6 per cent was utilised for butter making. 19.7 per cent for cheesemaking and 0.7 per cent for the manufacture of condensed and dried milk. The quantities of butter, whey butter, and cheese produced during 1936-37 rose by 6 per cent. 5 per cent and 3 per cent respectively as compared with the previous year while the respective percentage increases in values were 15. 24 and 17. The total value of all dairy produce for the year at the factory was £26.868.643.

SOUTH AFRICAN DROUGHT EXTREME BUTTEP. SHORTAGE Drought throughout the greater part of South Africa in November caused serious anxiety and sent food prices disconcertingly upward. A report from Capetown early in November states:— “Butter is so scarce that exports have been discontinued for several months, and in the past few weeks regular consignments have been imported Jrom London and New Zealand. The retail price, which is usually about Is 5d a lb. at this time of the year, is Is lOd. and grocers have been forced to ration their slaes. Meat and vegetable prices are also climbing. “The Government is helping farmers in the drought areas to maintain the condition of their stock by supplying maize at cheap rates, but unless the summer rains came soon the outlook for farmers in the interior is very poor. "In contrast to the rest of the Union, the western Cape Province has had the wettest winter for many years.

and wine and fruit farmers are expecting a bumper crop.”

PIG IRON OUTPUT MONTH’S RECORD FIGURE More pig-iron was produced in Great Britain during October than for any similar period since the Great War. The output of 769.600 tons was well above the previous highest, 752,400 tons in August, 1920. When announcing these figures the British Iron and Steel Federation stated that this increase augured well for the fulfilment of the higher production for which the steel industry had planned. There were 133 furnaces in blast at the end of October compared with 132 furnaces having been blown in during the month and three having ceased operations. The production of pig-iron in October included 169,500 tons of mefatite, 421.400 tons of basic, 142.900 tons of foundry, and 20,900 tons of forge pig iron. Production of steel ingots and castings in October amounted to 1.133.600 tons, compared with 1,163.000 tons in September, and 1,060,500 tons in October, 1936.