DAIRY CONTROL BOARD

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 17802, 29 August 1929, Page 11

DAIRY CONTROL BOARD

THE ANNUAL REPORT. RECORD PRODUCTION. QUALITY OF HIGH STANDARD.' (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The annual report of the Dairy Board, approved at the meeting today, gives an interesting summary of the dairy year. Production for .the 12 months ended July 31 constituted an absolute record, amounting to 81,656 tons of butter, an increase of 9.27 per cent., and 86,605 tons of cheese, an increase of 14.3 per cent, •over the preceding season. On a • butterfat basis the increase was 10.8 . per 'cent, over the preceding 12 months, thus putting Into circulation approximately £2,250,000 more cash. A feature of the year was a substantial, increase in exports' to Canada, the Pacific Coast absorbing 182,000 boxes, compared with 68,000 two years before, and the Atlantic Coast 307,000 boxes, compared with 37,000 boxes two years before. In connection with the expanding trade to Canada, it Is announced that arrangements have been made with the Union Steam Ship Company for a reduction of 6d per box from the Tate of 4s Gd formerly ruling, conditional upon the heavy volume of export now ruling'continuing. The. butter market for the year had been good, showing much less variation than in preceding years. The difference in price between New Zealand and Danish on occasions had been very small, sometimes New Zealand being the higher. Of the butter ix-ported 34 per cent, was sold f.o.b \nd the balance on consignment. The cheese market showed much reater variation in price throughout he season. The amount sold f.o.b. ras 19.3 per cent., the balance being onsignment. Higher Average Grade. In quality the position was that New Zealand butter had never attained a higher standard than obtained in the ' past season, the average grade for the | season of all butter exported being 92.77 per cent., compared with 91.3 per cent, for the preceding year. The total quantity graded was 3,214,303 boxes, compared with 2,922,629 the preceding year. The gradings were: —Finest, 70.24 per cent.first, 27.47 per cent.; under first, 2.28 per cent. Cheese showed little variation in grading quality from the preceding year, the average for the season being 91.86, compared with 91.87. The gradings were:—Finest, 29.31 per cent.; first, 68.86 per cent.; under first, 1.82 per. cent. Attention Ihad been focussed upon the qqality of New Zealand cheese, and research was now in progress concerning the defects to which attention had been drawn. The innovation of standardised cheese was proving successful, and the product was meeting with the entire satisfaction of merchants in Great Britain, the cheese having sold at prices equal 'to those realised for full cream cheese. This innovation was proving popular with factories.

Advertising Has Good Results. In advertising £16,700 had been spent in Great Britain in the comprehensive development of demand for New Zealand butter and cheese. Satisfactory results were being secured, and the board’s London manager reported that the stage had now been reached when the objects of the board were being fully understood by the trade, and the value of its work more widely appreciated and recognised. The result of this was that the efforts and time formerly spent in introducing the board’s services were now devoted to dealing with 'the great variety of requests for material co-operation. The report comments that producers probably have little realisation of the detailed work involved in the transport of 170,000 tons produce overseas .annually. This work is now done completely by the board’s own staff at th’e various ports of shipment. During the year over 100 vessels were used, and all equipment for transport of Dairy iproduce inspected by the o board’s officers. Detailed attention is being given to steady improvement in the conditions of transport and the speeding up of steamers, together with the rearrangement of services to facilitate development of trade in all parts of the United Kingdom. During the coming season.investigations will be made into the effect of varying temperatures and fluctuating humidity on cheese in cold store and while in ocean vessels: Co-operation In this is being effected between Massey College, the. Cambridge low-tem-perature station, and the Reading dairy laboratory. An Interesting Analysis. An interesting analysis is made of the savings effected since the inception of the board in respect of ocean freight*, marine insurance, and London storage. In the, case of a 500-ton butter factory the payments in 19231924’0n the three, items mentioned amounted to a total of £SBIO. For the 'season now current the charges on the same items will amount to £4516, showing a total saving annually of £1294, which is contrasted with the annual levy payable by the factory of £146. Similarly In the case of a 500-ton cheese factory the payments in 1923-24 in respect of ocean freight, marine insurance, and London storage, amounted to £5577, whereas for the season just closed the gross charge on these items was £4308, showing a total annual saving of £1269, .with the annual levy payable by the factory of £73. The total levy paid by the industry in 1928-29 for the maintenance of the board was £34,875,' whereas the annual saving reached approximately £450,000. In connection with Insurance, a new contract just finalised establishes a premium on butter of 7s per cent., and on cheese of 8s 2d per cent., showing a saving of approximately £5250 in annual premiums against rates formcly obtaining. It is computed that the total reduction between the rates : effective before the board’s inception 1 and those now ruling amounts to from £35,000 to £50,000 per annum. Income and Expenditure. The statement of income and expenditure show's that the levy received was £34,875, and the'interest on in-i vestments £IBB9. The cost of the! head office in New Zealand was £7067, | and in London £5292, making a total j of £12,360, showing a reduction of' approximately £6OOO from last year’s ) figures. The total expenses amounted , 1 to £27,088, which, after grants for j ' dairy research, left an excess of in- ; rorne over expenditure for the year of • £562 5. The hoard’s reserve funds | stand at £33,943, compared with | , £36,905 at the start of the board’s financial year.