COLONIAL BUTTERS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1126, 13 May 1911, Page 8

COLONIAL BUTTERS.

A LONDON .REPORT.

Tho London correspondent of an Australian paper, writing just before one of the latest mails left England, said that • tho outstanding feature of tho trado was the fact that only about 10 per cent, of the Australian butter arriving was of a, quality that could bo 3old "as ''choicest. 'Usually tho proportion was about 20 to 25 per cent. Thero was an excellent demand forthis grade, and butter within it cleared well; but there was little call for tho other qualities, which, aro. accumulating. ' The largo quantities of this butter in cold store was a very serious matter. At that time everything should bo clear. What would happen to this heavy block of over 100,000 boxes? Prices would be down to tho eighties beforo it was liquidated.

"Tho multiple shop companies are holding off tho market," he continued, "'and with abundant supplies coming it ;looks unlikely that they will be attempting further 'manipulation , of a serious . Jkind. These buyers stick very closely jto their, bargains, however the deal ;turns out. -They make" no quibbles.' An trade buyer, if tho market ;goes against him for-a line of Australian b'ut.tcr, will strain every point to 'get out of tho contract. "The average quality of Australian Initter coming along is below par, show[ing signs of tho heavy rain and rank •herbage. Now South AVales butter is sour and earthy in flavour, and musty, jevidenco of delay in cream conveyance. :Queensland butter is just tho same. ITho lino drawn between fancy butter and other grades that in ordinary times should be Is. to 2s. below is very sharp, .and theso secondary qualities are selling at'fully-6s. to Bs. below 'fancy' values. Butters that would have made 100s. to 102s. last year (with choicest values, samo as now) are only worth 965. Of the:9O;0OO boxes in this week, I am informed by a largo importer that not moro than 10,000 are of tho finest quality. These 10,000 cases aro worth 1045.' and 108s. unsalted, as extreme prices for 'fancy. , I notice that one of the .big distributing houses is offering its grocer. advertisement "Australian salt butter" at 88s., off which has to come, to bring it to Tooley Street parity, some ss. for tho profit. Probably after Easter.wo shall seo a fall in Australian and New Zealand butter prices."