FOREIGN BUTTER.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20428, 24 December 1931, Page 10

FOREIGN BUTTER.

INCREASING SUPPLIES, j DUMPING FACTS. I ' . ' ' • I {THOU OUtt OWB CORRESPONDENT.) LONDON. November IS. In October, 1930; imports of foreign butter were:— Cwts. Soviet Russia .. 19,988 Finland .. .. 19,207 Esthonia .. .. 10,134 j Denmark \. *.. 211,541 j In Ooctobcr, ISKSJ, the figures were:— j Cwts. Soviet Russia .. 62,804 ' Finland .. .. 21,517 Esthonia .. .. 10,882 Denmark .. .. 112-1,536 i In the House of Commons yesterday, Major Carver asked tho Parliamentary ; Secretary to tho Board of Trade (Mr Ifore-Bclisha) if he could state tho average wholesale.price realised on the market for the Russian butter imported into this country in each of the last three months. Mr Hore-Belisha replied that "the average prices per cwt. were: August, 92s 10d; September, 92s 7d; October, 101 sod. It is recorded that for tho ten months, .January to October, this year, imports of foreign butter wcro 1G,G59 tons more than in the corresponding period of last year. Of this huge increase, Russia has contributed more than one-half, though other Continental countries have increased their supplies in many instances. Russia, it was announced early this year, would make a "dead set" at the English butter market, and it was believed that frjbm 18,000 to 20,000 tons of Russian, butter would be brought to these shores during 1931. Already the figure has reached 17,700 tons, in spit-.-of the rvimoured breakdown of the Soviet butter exporting plan, and in face of the distinet-unpopularity of Russian butter with tho British public. Unprecedented Imports. "This is dumping in its vei'y worst form," Mr 11. Davis, London manager of the New Zealand Dairy Produce Board; told a f ' Daity Express " representative. "The Russian butter is entirely unwanted, and it is being sold at a price which bears- no relation *o the real value of butter, It is quite impossible in any civilised country to produce butter at the price which Russian supplics'v are now fetching. These imports. are absolutely unprecedented at this time of year. Never since the war have we experienced such a huge consignment of Russian butter in November.' ' Selling "Straight." Mr Page Thornton, secretary of the Empire Dairy Council, stated that Russian butter is fetching about 90s, per •cwt compared with 110s to 112s for New Zealand butter. "The public," he remarked, "does not know when it is buying the stuif. for I have never heard of anyone being alile to purchase Russian butter as such over the counter. Most of it is blended, but I hear some of it is being sold 'straight' now without blending. No one seems to know definitely where it all goes to." Mr Ji, G. Stapleton, of the British Dairy Farmers' Association, considers that the time has arrived for. an emergency tariff on all foreign butters pf 3d, to 4d per Jib. There would bo no rod,-! son, he sisl, to cpntempla'te any increase in tho prico of ynblended butters if. this were done. . L : , The '{Daily' Express" assures Mr Runciman (President of the' Board of Trade) • that ■if foreign butter were added to the list of imports which are to come under the 100 per cent. Fore-* stalling Bill: It would-not affect the price of-but-; ter. / . . ' ' • It would improve the standard of but-: ter in the shdps. It would; fee &n> act of justice, and succour to our hard-pressed dairy farm ers. ■ t ■ It? would be an act of: a. bsolute. in justice to exclude, this item from the list! of taxable imports. , . 1 BUTTER AS PRESENTS. COMMENT ON PRIOE. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) LONDON, November 18. The'"New Zealand News" (London), in its issue of November 17th, remarks: The New Zealand Dairy Produce Board announces in New Zealand that its arrangement in connexion v/ith gifts of butter, from residents in the Dominion to friends in Great Britain is still being carried on. For the sum of 6s 8d the Board will arrange at any time | during the year for its London office to .supply 41b of Now Zealand "finest" butter, carefully packed in cartons, to any address in Great Britain free of any cost to the recipient. The only defect in this arrangement seems to be tho exorbitant price charged—ls Sd pellb. Last year tho charge was 7s 6d for 41b. i WESTLAND WOOD-PULP AND PAPER SYNDICATE, LTD ANNUAL MEETING. The fourth annual general meeting of shareholders of the Wcstland Wood-pulp and Taper Syndicate, Ltd., automatically r.djourncd from December 16th, was, in compliance with tlie Companies Act, lield yesterday in the Chamber of Commerce Building. In tho absence of shareholders, Mr 11. C. Webb, -with proxies totalling 1790, conducted tho, meeting. Apologies for non-at-teiidance were received from Messrs 11. R. Young (Westport), D. J. Evans (Hokitika), and W. S. Mitchell (Greymouth). The annual report and balance-sheet, with auditors' report thereon, was received. Messrs W."~ S. Mitchell (Greymouth) and D. J. Evans (Hokitika) wore reappointed directors. One director representing Canterbury shareholders is to be appointed at a general meeting to be called. The retiring auditors, Messrs Stewart. Beckett and 00.. were reappointed. Mr R. C. Webb was appointed secretary. Ia the absence of 3fr 11. R. Young (chairman of directors) a special resolution to be moved by him was lield in abeyance, as were other resolutions notice of which had been given.