THE COLONIAL DAIRY PRODUCE TRADE.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11690, 17 September 1903, Page 5

THE COLONIAL DAIRY PRODUCE TRADE.

Messrs W. Weddel and Co.'s annual review of the colonial dairy produce trade has come to hand by the mail, and, as usual, it is a comprehensive and instructive compilation. It is poin'ed out that there is no feature in connection with the dairy produce trade more interesting than tho "remarkable capacity of the British markets to absorb the steadily growing quantities of butter received yearly into the United Kiugdom. For the year ended in June last the import of butter was 200,186 tons, which shows an increase of 12,279 tons on the previous year, and 24,727 tons on the year ended June 30th 1901. Only three oouutries now seiuT less butter into the United Kingdom than they did ten yearn ago. These are Australia, which has been suffering from an exceptionally long drought; Germany, probably owing to the growing prosperity of her artisan population, and Sweden, whose butter is most likely now usually entered at the Customs as Danish. Of the countries showing a growing trade, Canada now sends 11,000 tons more than hi 1894 New Zealand 6000 tons, Argentina 4000 tons, Belgium 2000 tons, Denmark 38,000 tons, France 1500 tons, Holland 12,500 tons, Norway 350 tons, Russia 18 600 tons, and the United States 400 tons. During each of the past two years the Argentine has doubled ita trade in butter with tho United Kingdom while tho Russian trade has trebled in the la* five years, though tho imports from Kusm this year were 228 tons less titan last year, due probably to more profitable markets in Continental countries. From 2305 tons from New Zealand in the season of 1894-95, the receipts have risen steadily to 8534 tons in the season 1902-03, while Australia this year sent onlv 1152 tons, which is the smallest quantity from that country since 189 U. I'his great falling off in Australian supplies has naturally benefited the New Zealand butter trade. Consignments of Australian butter being insufficient to meet last season's requirements, buyers were compelled to supply customers with the New Zealand article, and the quality being recognised as superior to the general average of Australian, has placed our product in the most favourable position for future development. In regard to the • quality of New Zealand butter, Messrs Weddel and Co. say, further:The general high quality of New Zealand butter ha« for the last, few years made steady progress toward a still more perfoot standard, and last season's imports demonstrate una fact most emphatically, lie proportion securing the award oi first grade from tho bovernmeat graders increases every year at- . though the graders aje steadily raising their standard, with tho result that New Zealand butter is earning a higher reputation then ever upon British markets, and ib now gonerally recognised as the very ■best butter goat to tho Mother Country by any colcny. Tnexa is still room, however, for further progress in : particular cases, as the very superior quality; of the butter made by a seloot number or their factories fully illustrates. If owtaia factories can attain a standard- higher thta the majority, there can be no reason why most of the factories on the be ß t pasiurw should not reach the same high level, butt** is not a natural product but a manufactured article; and tho sanis care, and skill in mam- i nulation that is displayed by the few. select factories could be acquired by all. ... With reference to the prices obtained, the firm say that to the Australian and New Zealand producers the prices of butter last season must have been fairly gratifying, more especially to those who sold their outputs for the season either on a f.o.b. orc.i.f. basis. The two previous seasons had j been more favourable to those who shipped their goods to be sold on condgnment, and , consequently buyors at Home last season were ready to pay higher prices for the , outputs for the season than ever before. ■ ;■[ The result was a disappointment to those who bought on these terms. Those whe | waited and bought on ttie open market of (; the day were more successful. Messrs Wed- | ; del and Co. point out, however, that it is ; very unwise to draw absolute conclusions ;; from the results of a single year as to which m is the better mode of buying. In matters of this kind a fixed policy of buying either ■;.- on the open market or purchasing the out-' \ put for the season is to be recommended. . For some-seasons one method is better,, 'M for other seasons it is worse. Shippers aire < therefore advised to sell half on c.i.f,.;' terms, and send half on consignment. • With reference to New Zealand cheese, :" : Messrs Weddel and Co. say that it is! | steadily, if somewhat slowly, making ad-' '■/„ vances toward a higher quality, but it is riot '-, yet generally equal to Canadian. No doubt; M the many changes which have taken place in ;'.; the office of Dairy Commissioner during : : the past few years are retarding progress, -,, and it is pertinently remarked tho New a. Zealand Government, with all its progressive spirit, does not yet appear tov havo recognised at its proper value the/ ;. offico of its Dairy Commissioner. Prices s § for New Zealand cheese last season were | the best ever known, ranging from 62s /. per cwt. in January, to 70s in March.' In jf reviewing the prospects for the coming v season, Messrs Weddel and Co. say 'that \.; Canada is sending less butter than lasfc. ; .:"'•■ year, but tho conditions in all the* butter exporting countries of Europe and in the I; British Isles-, are favourable to -as' large ' a production as year. The general outlook for the coming Australasian season points, however, to a probable all "! round reduction in prices, but if • this '• should amount to a halfpenny per lb, it §i would bring about a slightly larger'con- : sumption, and thus- stimulate the demand. "•' / The abnormally high prices which hare £ prevailed lately for cheese will" undoubtedly induce an increased production- . '' in Canada, and most probably in New> ;; Zealand, and as there is a reasonable prospect of fairly high prices for meat during- ffl the coming winter, the consumptive do-; •■:"; mand for cheese is likely to be more thanordinary, but not so abnormally large aa il last winter. On the whole the dairy > farmers of New Zealand have reason to : bo congratulated, both on the progress made in the industry, and on its pros*" J pecis for tho future. . ,m>