THE DAIRY INDUSTRY

Waikato Times, Volume 89, Issue 13895, 22 October 1918, Page 4

THE DAIRY INDUSTRY

IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT PURCHASE.

Private advice from Wellington state that the negotiations with the Imperial Government in regard to the purchase, of New Zealand butter and cheese have progressed, the price offered for the present season being 18ls per cwt (Is 7 11-28 d per lb) for butter and lOi'd per lb for cheese, as against 151s and lOd respectively. Messrs Paoey and Goodfellow are memlwrs of the Butter Committee, and Mr George Buchanan is a member of the Cheese Committee. The prices quoted have not been accepted, and there is a probability that that for butteft will not be accepted. It is looked upon as very disappointing, especially in view of the fact that the British Government is paying GV per lb for Danish butter. On the other hand, the price offered for cheese, which amounts to about 2s per lb butter-fat, is considered very satisfactory. Members of the committee cannot understand the low price offered for butter compared with the satisfactory payment to lie made for cheese. INCREASED LOCAL PRODUCTION.

The production of butter and cheese in the Waikato this season promises to be exceptionally good, and will probably show a large increase, on that of last year.

Mr C. J. Parlane. of the New Zealand Dairy Association, informs us that much more cream is being received at the factories this year than last, and as a result, the production of butter already shows an increase- <f ir> per cent, on that of last year. This is largely accounted for by the number of new suppliers secured and the increase in herds. Mr Parlane states that the spring was late, but the feed is now getting away well, with the. natural result that the volume of cream is daily increasing.