Survey of the Work, Sfc, of Victorian Agricultural Department. 801 



Department, and is now being considered by a committee of represen- 

 tative and experienced dairymen, and I liave every confidence that, 

 when it comes back to tlie Minister of Agriculture, it will provide 

 adequate means for checking the supply of faulty cream and milk. 



The butter industry, on account of its magnitude and importance, 

 has always had the attention and assistance of the State, but the 

 •cheese industry, which in some countries is of greater importance, 

 has never been assisted. Victorian cheese ought to be of a higher 

 standard, as the climate and pastures are well adapted to cheese 

 making, yet a considerable quantity of bad cheese is made. Makers 

 of poor cheese do not suffer so much when the supply does not exceed 

 the demand for local consumption — there being a protective duty of 

 5d. per lb,, everything made consequently sells at a price. When, 

 however, the supply exceeds the local demand, and there is a surplus 

 to export, a great number of dairymen suffer because the quality of 

 their cheese is not good enough to pay for exportation. 



Much of the best Victorian cheese is sold at present as New Zealand 

 in the retail trade. Now if the greater quantity of the cheese made 

 in this State was of good quality New Zealand cheese would never be 

 heard of. There is no remedy for this state of things but instruction, 

 and this is what the Department of Agriculture will undertake. 



Mr. McMillan, an expert cheese maker, who was educated at the 

 best schools in England and Scotland, where he received the highest 

 diplomas, has been engaged. He has also the advantage of having 

 been two years in Australia, and therefore knows something of local 

 conditions. His methods have been approved by the winners of the 

 highest awards at the last Royal Agricultural Show in Melbourne. I 

 have, consequently, every confidence that he will do good work. 



Lecturing is of little good to cheesemakers, so the instruction will 

 be of a practical and conversational nature. Mr. McMillan will visit 

 cheese factories and dairies, and will give assistance to those requiring 

 it. He will take his coat off, and show how to make cheese besides 

 giving advice in the direction which he considers necessary, remaining 

 possibly a week or ten days at one factory. 



Government Cool Stores- 



The Government Cool Stores, as you are well aware, have played a 

 most important part of late years in developing the export trade. 

 The superficial floor space in these stores is 36,000 feet, and the 

 Department pays to the City Council £15,000 per annum for their 

 use. The rent is exceedingly high, but could easily be borne if there 

 was a good export trade. Even in the financial year 1902-3 — the 

 worst drought year Victoria has ever seen — the loss on these stores 

 amounted to only £300, after paying rent and all working expenses, 

 which amounted to £32,000. 



It is true that in the previous year (1901-2) a loss of £4,500 was 

 made, but this is principally accounted for by the insufficient storage 

 ■charges made for the l)usiness done. 



