THE BUTTER OUTLOOK.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 282, 22 August 1908, Page 3

THE BUTTER OUTLOOK.

MR. SPRACC ON HIS TOUR. . GOOD PRICES LIKELY FOR MANY YEARS. \ , . V Mr. Wesley ' Spragg, the managing director of the Now .Zealand' Dairy Association, who has . just returned; from a tour to Great Britain and .America, gavo a representative of the. "Herald" on.Thursday;some of the impressions gathered on his:journey (writes ■ our Auckland correspondent). "It has not ■ been a pleasure'trip," he said. "I havo been on a tour through England, Scotland, Wales, and America in the interests of the dairying organisations * with whiqh I am connected, . niy chief.mission;being.to report on the eon-' ' ditions reigning in tho butter market in ■England. A period of ten years had elapsed since my ' last visit, and I realised that changes nad taken place in- the English market, .but I was unprepared- for -the great changes which I found had actually occurred. I spent seven weeks in London, and maido the'-fullest inquiry on. all subjects relating to'the shipping 'and marketing of butter. The changes which I noted will'involvo corresponding .changes" in r , bur New Zealand ; methods, but I do not want to say definitely .what were the opinions I gathered, ,as I consider it my- first duty to report to my dircc- . tors. 7' " ' : - ' "What do I think, about tho state of tho butter market generally? '. Well, the past season has been an exceptional or.e, owing to tho shortage of supplies, and the prices havo been high. ,We have no . right to expect a recul'rence of such markets unless .. under similar i exceptional, conditions, but 'I am of opinion that good buying priqes will be obtained formany years. The conclusion was forced upon me during my tour of ■America. In some portions of that-country Vthe 'butter appeared to be little moro than glorified, axle grease. I was particularly struck by the low grade of tho butter produced in some of the central and western districts where the Home separating - system is in vogue. - The truth is that the Home separating'system is one which does not', lend itself to the production of the highclass, article. . '" "You ask whether I am more-than ever convinced of. the. merits - of. the consignee system over contracts. ;As applied to butam. The consignee syslem appeals ; to mo as being much bettor than sales to / speculators. .. "Finally," said, Mr.' Spragg; "I should liko-to'say that-under'careful guidance, such as is .being . given tp. the'industry by-the Government of New Zealand, and with the natural dairying. 'facilities of the country, our- butter , will' have no difficulty whatever in holding its own against the'world; It will , certainly he necessary, however, to keep in closer , touch than we. have done in the past with the distributors abroad. Nevertheless, I ; do not think % that it would bo advisable ito ' act , on the '' suggestion that Now Zoalanders should open their own • wholesale. London depots to handle their butter in.England.' -The system which has grown up naturally, and which has many ~of the- elements 1 of natural and genuine cooperation, is not likely to be easily improved upon."