MARGARINE TRADE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 206, 1 September 1933, Page 13

MARGARINE TRADE.

INFLUENCE IN BRITAIN. REDUCED CONSUMPTION. Margarine as a competitor with New Zealand butter continues to engage the attention of the New Zealand Dairy Board. In its annual report it is shown that British consumption of margarine in 1924 was 12.351b per head. In 1931, obviously owing to butter being at a price accessible to a large mass of the people, it was reduced to 9.251b per head. The Empire Marketing Board's researches would 6how that the consumption in 1932 was 9.31b per headManufacture of margarine in Great Britain is 176,800 tons per annum. The board, reporting on this subject, states that during the discussions of the board's London manager with British Ministers on the question of restrictions of dairy produce from the Dominions, the methods adopted by Holland and Germany in dealing with their margarine trade were reviewed. In both these countries severe restrictions have been imposed upon the margarine trade. The British Ministers did not appear to regard such methods with favour, and it seemed unlikely that they would be prepared to penalise their margarine industry to any extent.

It is but natural that the margarine interests of the United Kingdom should favour restriction of the imports' of dairy produce, as it is obvious that the price of margarine would be increased as a result. In view of the very strong financial organisation of margarine interests, there is a growing feeling that they are amongst those who are bringing pressure to bear upon the British Minister of Agriculture.