DAIRY PRODUCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue LXIX, 21 September 1938, Page 8

DAIRY PRODUCE.

SUPPLIES FOR BRITAIN.

LAST YEAR'S FIGURES. NEW ZEALAND CHIEF SOURCE. The United Kingdom importe of New Zealand butter reached- record figures last year, according to "Dairy Produce Supplies in 1937/' a review just published by the Imperial Economic Committee. Larger quantities of New Zealand cheese also ijere imported, while importe of processed milks and frozen pork were fully maintained. For butter, cheese and frozen pork New Zealand was again by far the most important source of supplies destined for the United Kingdom market.

Rising prices for dairy produce were reflected in an increase in the value of the United Kingdom's imports of these commodities last year. The total cost of daily produce, pig and poultry products imported during the year was £117.000,000. or £11.000.000 more than in the preceding year, following an increase of £8,000,000 between 1035 and 1936.

iln this connection several factors were of importance during 1937. In Europe ; unfavourable weather and the incidence lof foot-and-mouth disease affected projduHion to a considerable extent and importing countries in certain canes relaxed restrictions on imports;' in the southern lu.iiwphere a second unfavourable season in Australia more than Offset a further expansion in exports from New Zealand. There was also a considerable reduction in the United Kingdom output j of butter, cheese, eggs and bacon, a movement, no doubt, in part due to the liiali priie of feeding stuffs. From the point I nt' view of demand, conditions were somew hat variable, for purchasing power continued to increase early in 1037, but ►differed a setback towards the end of the year; at this time a sharp increase in i the price of butter was followed by a ' marked fall in its consumption. United Kingdom's share. The United Kingdom remained last year by fur the most important market for daiiy produce and allied products, but took a rather smaller proportion of world imports of butter and eggs, although i slightly increasing its share of cheese. | Recent years had witnessed an increase j in the proportion of the United Kingdom's I imports of dairy produce supplied by j Kiupire countries, but tlile was checked | for some of the chief commodities in 1936 | and a further reduction, although in mast cases small, was recorded last year.

I Imports of butter into the United Kinn- ! derm in 1037. amounting to 9.416.000cwt.. • valued at £47.400,000. were the Hinnllest lin any yoar since 19.13. Imports from I Kmpii'c countries comprised 52 per cent of t'nisH imports, as against 53 per cent in ]()3(i. and r>7 per font in 19.15. Imports from Australia declined by 12 per cent. Prices were for the greater part of the year above the 1930 level. The apparent consumption of butter is estimated at 1 24.811) per head, as against 25.01b in 10315, but on the other hand margarine consumption rose from 8.61b per head in 1930 to 8.91b last year. More Cheese Imported. The United Kingdom's imports of digest- hail declined in 193/ i and 193«. but recovered in 1937. when a total of 2.937.000 ewt was imported. Empire supplies were B'j>ol rent heavier than in 1936. larger nuantitifs being received from both New Zealand and Canada. The home production of cheese had declined appreciably ill 1936. and there was an even greater reduction in 1937, so that in spite of the heavier imports per caput, consumption fell to B.Blb, as against 9.01b in the previous year. i Imports of condensed milk in 1937 were very slightly -mnaller than in 1936. but imports of milk powder were 21 per cent ■ heavier. | Imports of Eggs. Imports of eggs in 1937 were little greater than in the preceding'year, larger l imports from Denmark being offset by a reduction in supplies from other foreign countries and from Empire sources. Home production declined and the consumption of eggs per head of the population is estimated at 156, as compared with 158 in 1!)3G. Prices for both home and imported onus in 1937 were slightly greater than in I

The United Kingdom's imports have boon materially reduced since 1932, but ivhile the quota on foreign supplies was maintained last year, the total imported. fi.o2S,Ooocwt, was 5 per cent greater than in 193 C. Imports from Empire countries eliowed a further large expansion, being 10 per cent heavier than in the preceding year, and accounting for 27 per cent of ell imports. On the other hand, tlie home output of bacon, which had shown a marked expansion during recent, year*, declined appreciably. Prices showed a /•light increase as compared with lf)3e. In addition to the comprehensive figures (riven for supplies and prices of dairy produce in the United Kingdom, the volume includes also n summary of the comparable data for the more important foreign countries, and brief reviews of international trade in dairy produce and allied products. In addition, a survey is made of legislative measures, affecting; dairy produce. In both the United Kingdom and foreign countries.