MISTRESS THE COW.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 302, 21 December 1926, Page 4

MISTRESS THE COW.

HER PLACE IN COMMERCE. MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER. Apparently the world is asking for more butter each year. A report from the United States Bureau of Agricultural Economics sets out that substantial increases over the average for 1909-13 are noted in. the international trade in dairy products for the years 1923 to 1925. Imports into consuming countries have increased along with increases in domestic production, while remarkable strides are apparent in exporting countries, particularly in the southern hemisphere. Of the several dairy products entering international trade, butter represents the greatest bulk, and is outstanding in its rate of increase as a trade factor. World imports of butter in 1925 reached fully 900,000,0001b, an increase of at least onethird over the 674,000,0001b accounted for during the five-year average 1909-13, according to available preliminary figures. The amounts mentioned cover all of the important consuming countries, outstanding among which are Great Britain and Germany. Great Britain's net imports of butter for 1925 amounted to 616,000,0001b, or, exclusive of Irish supplies, 517,000,0001b, an increase of 26 per cent over the 455,000,----0001b for 1909-13. German figures show a more striking increase, although representing an import business smaller than that of the United Kingdom. Imports into Germany for 1925 reached 213,000,0001b, largely from Den- ?™ - th against only 3,000,0001b in 1923 and 111,000,0001b in 1909----13. The increase of the 1925 imports over pre-war was 92 per cent. The United States, with 1925 imports standing at about 7,000,0001b and exports at about 8,000,0001b, developed the first excess of exports of butter since 1919 Other importing countries show no variation from the previous year worthy of note. .Preliminary figures on world butter exports for 1925 check closely with the total trade accounted for as imports. Danish exports in 1925 reached 271,000 0001b according to preliminary returns, and about equalled the 1924 figure. New Zealand maintained butter exports at about the level of the last two years and is credited -with 139,000,0001b. The Australian 1925 exports, at 97,000,0001b, show a sharp decrease compared with the 145 000 - 0001b exported in 1924. International trade in cheese exhibits recorded imports of 684.000,0001b, and exports of 725,000,0001b, according to preliminary figures for 1925. These show increases over 1924 imports and exports much less than the increase in butter trade.