10 June, 1918.] Review of the Butter Export Season. 369 



amongst the farmers of the State to maintain a good supply of cream 

 to the factories, also for information and instruction regarding the 

 treatment of dairy produce. It has frequently been pointed out at 

 previous conferences that the amount of instruction offered is infinite- 

 simal, and the country is looking forward to an awakening of the 

 Department of Agriculture, and its starting on active propaganda for 

 the purpose of putting the dairying industry on a better footing, and 

 imparting information bearing on dairy produce generally. It is 

 necessary that the factories receive the best raw material. Perhaps 

 Mr. Crowe might have something to say on the subject. 



Mr. Crowe. — It may be mentioned that only 34 per cent, of the 

 butter produced in Victoria during the last number of years has been 

 exported, so that only that percentage of the total output was likely 

 to come within Commonwealth control. The Commonwealth Govern- 

 ment, under its Commerce Act and Kegulations, undertakes to deal 

 with exports, and its control commences when dairy produce is entered 

 for export. Sixty-six per cent, of the production is consumed locally. 

 Over a number of years only 6.3 per cent, of the cheese manufactured 

 in the State has been exported, the other 93 per cent, having been 

 consumied locally, so that but a small proportion of what is produced 

 is likely to come under the control of the Commonwealth authorities. 

 All of the milk produced for local consumption requires supervision 

 under State authority. In Queensland there is in force a Dairy Pro- 

 ducts Act, which came into operation about 1905. For the last two 

 or three years in New South Wales they have had in operation a Dairy 

 Industry Act, which was passed as the result of a conference of Min- 

 isters of Agriculture held in Brisbane about four years ago. At that 

 conference the Victorian Minister also promised to endeavour to get 

 a Bill passed in Victoria, so that all of the States would be working 

 on uniform lines. I can assure you he endeavoured to introduce this 

 Bill, but for some reason or other (I think you all know the history 

 of it, the Cream Grading Bill), it was side-tracked from time to time. 

 The measure now contemplated will be similar to the Cream Grading 

 Bill, but what its title will be remains to be seen. At the Conference 

 of Ministers last week, the Directors of Agriculture from most of the 

 States were present, whilst the officers of the Department connected 

 with dairying were all represented. A meeting was held, and the good 

 and weak points of the Queensland and New South Wales Acts were 

 fully considered. It was agreed that from those Acts, which had been 

 in operation for many years, and the material contained in the Vic- 

 torian Cream Grading Bill, there would be no difiiculty in framing 

 a Bill right up to date, which could in no way be regarded as experi- 

 mental. (Applause.) 



A Delegate. — Kegarding the 34 per cent, of the Victorian butter 

 exported, drc, is all butter on the local market controlled by the Federal 

 graders ? 



Mr. Crowe. — -At present, they have control under the War Precau- 

 tions Act. After the war, it is considered they will be unable to exercise 

 that power. 



A Delegate. — How does the output per cow per year for the last 

 year compare with years before the drought? 



Mr. Crowe. — I have not any figures for the last year, but may 

 mention that, according to the Commonwealth Year-Book (No. 9, 1916, 



