10 JrxE. 1918.] Review of the Butter Export Seaso)}. 365 



488,016. It is estimated tliat for 1917 the numbers were about 512,000,* 

 makiug an average of 500,000 for the last two years. On this basis, the 

 average production for the last two seasons during the winter months 

 of May, June and July should have been 2,157 tons instead of 1,595 

 tons, so that it will be seen that the winter production of butter per 

 dairy cow in the State has fallen off by about 25 per cent. The con- 

 ditions of the last two winters compare favorably with the four winters 

 used as the basis for comparison. I repeat that " the figures for the 

 drought year, 1915, have been omitted," and the figures for the present 

 year, which has been abnormal, are, of course, not yet available. 



Grading and Grade Stamping. 



The basis upon which butter was sold to the Imperial Government 

 and dealt with by the Commonwealth Government during the past 

 season was an inducement to manufacturers to improve the quality of 

 their butter. A price was fixed for 90 points butter, with Is. ^er cwt. 

 per point lower for every point below 90 points, and Is. per cwt. more 

 for every point higher than 90 points; in other words, butter which 

 scored 94 points was paid for at the rate of 6s. per cwt. more than for 

 butter scoring 88 points. Butter factory managers, directors, and dairy- 

 men should, in consequence, have been galvanized into action in order 

 to improve the quality of their output. Those who have not done so 

 have had to suffer the consequences, whilst those who made the effort 

 have been amply repaid. All the butter dealt with during the past 

 season has been grade stamped. 



The work of grading dairy produce under the Commerce Act and 

 Kegulations was carried on for the Commonwealth since the coming into 

 operation of the Act in 1906 until January last by officers of the State 

 Department of Agriculture. On the 1st February last, how^ever, this 

 work was taken over by the Commonwealth, and the whole of the grading 

 staff transferred to the Commonwealth service. Consequently, I have 

 been left without any grading or instructional staff. The Common- 

 Avealth authorities promised to give the State copies of all grade 

 certificates, as has been done in New South Wales, to enable instruc- 

 tional work arising out of the grading to be carried on. So far, not 

 one certificate has been received, although rej^eated requests for them 

 have been made.f The reason given for the omission is that copies of 

 certificates may not be given without the approval of the factories con- 

 cerned. This might be considered a sufficient reason where outside 

 firms or factories are involved, as none of them have a right to such, 

 information. It is different, however, in the case of a State where the 

 information is required officially for instructional purposes. 



By the State authorities it is considered that it is not the function 

 of the Commonwealth Customs Department to undertake the work of 

 instruction in dairying of the manufacture of dairy products. These 



* Since these estimated figures were used " the return of live stock in Victoria " by the Government 

 Statist has been made available, showing that there were 534,388 dairy cows in the State. This number 

 gives an average of 511,237 for the two years instead of 500,000. The average production should therefore 

 be stated as 2,205 tons instead of 2,157, and consequently the falling off is nearly 30 per cent, in place of 

 the 25 per cent, taken as the basis of my estimate. 



t By letter dated 29th May. 1918, received by the Director of Agriculture from the Acting Comp- 

 troller-General, Department of Trade and Customs, it is stated " that as the approval of the Victorian 

 Factory Proprietors to the furnishing of the certificates in question has now been unanimously obtained, 

 arrangements have been made for copies of the grade certificates to be supplied to you as from the 1st. 

 proximo." 



