6 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Jury, 1902. 
area devoted to cattle-raising, to block the restocking of country denuded of stock, and 
to prevent the movement of cattle from country devoid of grass and water to districts 
where both are relatively plentiful. I intend to confer with the Stock Board imme- 
diately on my return to Brisbane with the view of ascertaining what action may be 
advisable. Possibly at no distant date it may be considered advantageous to remove 
these barriers altogether. 
Mear anp Datry Propuce EncouRAGEMENT. 
The number of meatworks erected under the provisions of the Meat and Dairy 
Produce Encouragement Act has not increased during the past year. The subsidised 
companies, however, with the exception of three of the smaller companies, report that, 
notwithstanding the long-continued drought, they have operated their works success: 
fully during the year under review. This fact is very gratifying, and is, as stated at 
the last Conference, due to the excellence of the aed meats manufactured by the 
works, which always find ready and remunerative markets in South Africa and the 
Philippines. The companies, it is picating to know, have met the payments demanded 
under the Act, and it has now been definitely decided to pay a dividend to the 
contributors to the fund from the moneys thus repaid by the companies operating in 
the Northern, Central, and Southern districts under the Act. This action will 
distribute a sum of £20,000 among these contributors, who, generally speaking, have 
experienced and are, unfortunately, still acutely experiencing the disastrous effects of 
this unprecedented drought. 
Bacon anp Ham. 
The quantity of bacon and ham manufactured during the year shows a decrease 
of 620,732 Ib. on the quantity manufactured in 1900, the figures being, respectively— 
1900, 7,685,446 lb.; and 1901, 7,064,714 lb. The value of the exports also decreased 
from £45,846 in 1900 to £31,399 in 1901. The value of the ham exported, however, 
shows an increase of about £4,000, but bacon shows a decrease of £18,000 odd, making 
the total decrease of £14,447, as indicated by the figures quoted. The product, it is, 
however, pleasing to know, still retains its position in the markets outside this State— 
a fact due to the closer attention paid by the breeders to their stock and the excellent 
systems of manufacture existing at the various factories. 
Datryina. 
The butter manufactured in 1901 was 9,741,882 lb., being no less than 1,061,493 Ib. 
more than in 1900. The exports increased in value from £51,729 in 1900 to £86,171 
last year, an increase of £34,442. This large increase is mainly attributable to the 
fact that the co-operative factories mentioned last year as having been established, or 
in course of establishment, have proved a complete success. I cannot better illustrate 
this than by quoting the following paragraph from the Queensland Farmers’ 
Co-operative News of the 15th May, with reference to the operations of the Queens- 
land Farmers’ Co-operative Dairy Company, whose factory is situated at Booval, near 
Ipswich :—“ This company has now been in active operation for twelve months, and 
we have no intention of anticipating the directors’ annual report, but we congratu- 
late them on surviving the most critical period of any company’s existence. The turn- 
over for the period under review has run into £51,000, and the greater part of the 
produce has been distributed by the company’s own employees. his we regard as 
the most important departure of the company, as there are often serious leakages 
between the producer and the consumer, and the company deserve credit for their 
pluck in starting this branch of their business, as it not only ensures their getting 
current market rates for their produce, but it gives them a voice in what the current 
market rates shall be, and if the farmers would only form a strong combination and 
demand full market value for all their produce they would be masters of the 
situation.’” The development in the manufacture of cheese continues on the up grade, 
the quantity for the year reaching 2,436,912 lb., or an increase of 452,207 Ib. on the 
output for 1900. If the increase for 1900 is added to the increase for this year, it will 
be seen that in two years the output has increased by 1,013,637 Ib., equal to nearly 
60 per cent. The value of the exports of this product has risen from £626 in 1900 to 
£6,015 in 1901. 
_ Another substantial reason for considering that, with improved seasons, the 
dairying industry in this State, more especially in the Southern portion, will surpass 
the most sanguine expectations, is that the condensed milk, manufactured by the 
factories now preparing that product, is more than holding its own in the open market 
with the imported article. 
