THE DAIRY INDUSTRY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3957, 6 November 1891, Page 2

THE DAIRY INDUSTRY.

A MARKET FORTHE PRODUCE

A meeting of settlers of the Mastarton Mangahao Special Settlement Association was held in the School house at Ballawce on Monday night last, to discuss the question of marketing their butter. The proceedings were of rather an informal character; but the results were of a highly sa< it-factory nature to those settlers depending upon butter-making principally for ut source of income. Mr Herbert Chester, produce merchant, of Wellington, was present, and was introduced to the meeting by the Pahiatua Star representative. Mr Chester informed the meeting the he had gone there resolved upon giving farmers a " living price" ior their output, and he was prepared to take any quantity of fire quality butter, and pay cash on delivery in Wellington. He would supply all the necessary material for packing at his own expense, and" would pay freight from Woodville to Eketahuna. In the past great injury had been done to the trade through want of know ledge as to the best methods of packing, and the absence of proper facilities of transit. These difficulties were, however, now disappearing, and it now remained for the farmers to turn out nothing but the finest quality. One drawback of the trade in the past had bepn thatall the bad " stuff" had been sold in England as *< New Zealand," and all the good as Irish, Danish, or French; The butter he sent Home, however, would be graded by him before shipment, and would be stamped according to quality, and sold by the stamp only, with the right to test one package in ten with the sampling iron. The best packages were the white pine boxes holding 561bs nelt, and these he could supply properly lined with parchment paper. At present his price delivered at Woodville was 7d per lb for dairy made, and 8d for best separator. All the allowance he required for shrinkage was lib to theewt; and he might tell them that strict uniformity of of weight gave an additional value of from 2s to 3s per cwfc to butter. A very large number of questions wf re put to the speaker as to the percentage of salt, colour, and other details, to which satisfactory answers were given. Finally it was agreed that each of those present should send a trial lot to Mr Chester, and if it met with his approval, to continue selling to him during the season.—l'ahiatua Star. I