DAIRY NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6073, 10 January 1898, Page 4

DAIRY NOTES.

, Exporters of butter received a shock by the cable report that in Christmas week butter was being stored. Relief will h_ felt by the announcement of Messrs Weddel and Co. that the supply for this month will be 30,000 boxes below that of January last. Notwithstanding the .dry season the Canterbury Central Co-operative Dairy Factory Company made at its Addington factory in November upwards of 90,0001 b of butter, and in December over 100,0001 b. All the company's shipments this season have been graded first-class. The hot weather has caused an increased demand for pasteurised milk, which consiuners have found to keep perfectly sweet in the hottest of weather. Mr C. H. Scott, of Manaia, Taranaki, has been appointed to the secretaryship of the National Dairy Association of New Zealand (North Island branch), in place of Mr John Sawers, who, has filled the position for three "years, and has for some , time been desirous of giving his sole attention to the affairs of the colonial produce firm in England for which he is the New Zealand representative. Mr Scott has already taken up his duties. The Ngaire Co-operative Dairy Factory Company (Taranaki) is Reported to have paid its suppliers 9_d per lb of butter fat for the whole of last season— probably the best result in the colony for the year. The total cost of land, buildings and plant has been .£1798 15s 4d, from which „305 has been deducted for depreciation. The capital paid up by the shareholders, who are also suppliers, is .£1367 7s 9d, beiug mainly the accumulation of deductions made monthly from milk cheques at the rate of IM per sixty gallons of milk. The debt remaining on the cost of- the factory is now only _6126. This company has consistently done business with one firm in London, and the result has been eminently satisfactory. A Johannesburg firm have written to the Victorian Secretary for Agriculture stating that they are buyers of butter, and wishing those who export that article to communicate with them. They wish to know how • the butter is packed, the quantity available monthly, and price. They do a larger trade in pastry butter than any other. At present they sell about 10 cwt cases of margarine monthly, which costs 4d and 5d per lb in England. They say : — " Of course we expect to pay more than this even for a second class of butter. We think it is rather a pity Australia does not pack its butter, in lib and 21b tins. It would suit this market much better." A shipment of butter was made from Sydney a few days ago, together with 8000 carcases frozen mutton. New Zealand should consider the possibilities of the African trade, which will certainly continue for some years. The Leader charges the defeat of the Victorian Exported Products Bill upon the " middleman." When the Bill came before the Legislative Council an hon member stated that, "on a. recent visit to London, he found the jobbin«.piiddleinan boasting of having the Australian trade under his thumb. Most of the factory butter which left the colony was of the best quality, but, unfortunately, owing to discreditable practices, butter not factory made was sent side by side with the factory-made butter, and the genuine article was injuriously affected in consequence. Mixed butter should not be allowed to be placed on the market as factory-made butter, and it was only reasonable that the system proposed of keeping them strictly separate should be adopted. Australian factory-made butter was a name being fraudulently used by unscrupulous persons." For all this, however, the middleman sympathy among Upper House members was sufiiciently strong to carry a motion referring the Bill to be considered by a committee, which means that the question cannot be touched again for at least six months. St Michael's Church.— The Rev A. W. Averill vicar of the parish of St Michael and All Angels, will probably go to England f on a trip about Easter.