H.—29

18

Quantities of Butter exported for the Years ended March, 1919 and 1920.

Quantities of Cheese exported for the Years ended March, 1919 and 1920.

Quantities of Butter and Cheese forwarded to Grading-stores for Grading.

The Cheese Industry. As the result of the rapid extension in the manufacture: of Cheddar cheese which has taken place during recent years New Zealand now ranks as one: of the principal countties engaged, in the' export of this valuable, food-prerduct. In view of the, increasing demand on the' world's markets for other milk-products, including butter, condensed milk, and dried milk, it is impossible to say at this juncture to what extent a further rapid development in cheese-production will take place' in this country even in the immediate future 1 ,. All will depend upon the, relation of the prices obtainable: lor the; respective milk-products, and the net return to the farmers who favour this branoh erf elairying in preference to others which may be considered equally profitable. It may be mentioned, however, that during the period under review preparations have been continued for the future extension of the cheese industry in many districts where dairying is being commenced on land not formerly used for this purpose. Moreover, many of the dairy companies already in existence have also decided to enlarge, their cheese-factories in order to cope, with an increased supply of milk. Therefore the present outlook is by no means unfavourable towards the continued production of a large annual output of cheese, and so long as the quality of this proeluct can be, maintained at a comparatively high average standard remunerative prices may be expected. The total quantity of cheese dealt with at all grading-ports for the year amounted to 60,799 tons. This was manufactured in 384 factories, of which 260 are situated in the North Island. Of these factories 347 are carried on by co-operative dairy companies and the remainder are in proprietary ownership.

Port. 1919-20. 1918-19. Decrease, 1919-20. Increase, 1919-20. Packages. ! Net Total Decrease, 1919-20. Packages, i Packages. 647,847 15,363 112,536 11,420 22,050 121,934 34,453 19,603 Packages. 310,113 10,643 65,478 2,700 6,508 55,740 214 9,909 Auckland Gisborne New Plymouth .. Patea Packages. 337,734 4,720 47,058 8,720 15,542 66,194 34,239 9,694 Wanganui Wellington Lyttelton and Timaru Dunedin Totals .. 523,901 985,206 461,305 461,305

Port. 1919-20. 1919-20. 1918-19. j Decrease, 1919-20. i Increase, 1919-20. Not Total Increase, 1919-20-Auckland New Plymouth .. Patea Wanganui Wellington Lyttelton Dunedin Bluff .. Packages. 150,281 206,483 243,626 16,726 251,507 27,747 37,873 96,839 Packages. 118,386 114,745 142,008 12,813 180,071 16,915 30,067 64,170 i Packages. Packages. 31,895 91,738 101,618 3,913 71,436 10,832 7,806 32,669 Packages. Totals .. 1,031,082 679,175 679,175 351,907 351,907 i I

Year 1919-20. Year 1918-19. Port. Butter. Cheese. Butter. Cheese. Auckland (I is borne New Plymouth .. Patea Wanganui Wellington Lyttelton anel Timaru Dunedin Bluff Cwt, 210,611 8,325 38,278 5,898 9,825 48,576 17,942 8,976 Cwt. 211,321 222,798 280,940 17,840 284,906 31,236 51,120 115,824 Cwt. Cwt, 245,504 192,680 5,676 44,702 214,040 4,496 240,390 8,164 17,300 64,706 292,077 24,293 31,300 12,695 46,471 109,932 Totals .. 348,431 1,215,985 410,236 1,144,190 I