WONDERFUL DEMAND FOR MILK

Wairarapa Age, 19 December 1919, Page 7

WONDERFUL DEMAND FOR MILK

A REVOLUTION IN THE INDUSTRY. It really is a question now whether dried milk has not already become a back number (says the New Zealand Dairyman). Tho demand at the moment from tho war-devastated countries of Europe is not alone for dried milk, but for whole milk in its natural form. This opens up for New Zealand a wider and richer outlook ( than ever was dreamed of by the advocate of tho dried product. Itis seriously proposed now that the price for whole milk during tho coming English winter shall bo four shillings per gallon. This means that a tengallon can of whole milk landed in London in December, January, and February would be worth £2, and thero is nothing to prevent us doing this, and doing it at a. great profit. In their wildest dreams tho dried milk advocates never soared above three shillings and sixpence, as the probable and possible price to be paid for but-ter-fat for dried milk. But what docs £2 sterling represent per pound of fat? Taking the average fat content at 4 per cent., it means ten shillings per pound of fat, while at half tho money tho proposition would bo miles ahead of anything yet offered to butter-fat producers. This scheme has advantages that beat tho "dried" skim to a frazzlo, for hero no expensive machinery is- required. All that is necessary is a twiee-a-day delivery, immediate cooling and pasteurising; and re-cooling. Tho whole milk could then bo canned in tins like petrol is shipped in, frozen into solid blocks, and sent home as frozen meat is. We hold that there is nothing out of the way in this suggestion. It is not only quite a feasible plan, but it would be a great charity to the starving millions of children and young people whose proper nurture is now a more serious problem that was presented to the ! statesmen in Europe even in the 1 blackest periods of the war. Will some 'co-operative dairy company not try shipping a fow thousand gallons of frozen whole milk? They are always talking of new markets. Here is one provided to their hands.