BUTTER PROSPECTS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1230, 12 September 1911, Page 8

BUTTER PROSPECTS.

BAIN BADLY' NEEDED. 'The prospects as far as prices are concerned aro good, but climatic conditions aro not at all satisfactory. The weather is far too dry." Such was the comment of a butter merchant when discussing the general prospects yesterday. The weather for this time of the year is unusually dry throughout New Zealand, and from all quarters complaints aro received as to the want of rain. In the south the conditions are worse than In tho north, feed having suffered a' great deal from the ravages of the grass grub, in addition to the dry, weather. Iu some districts a fairly heavy mortality of stock is recorded, mostly in the 'sheep flocks, but the milk supply is also affected.. Advices received from Eltham yesterday state that owing to tho dry weather tho milk supply was lower last month than during' the corresponding month last year, and a good soaking rain is badly needed. This applies to a number of dairying districts in the north. Tho Eltham Dairy Company is reported to have sold its season's output at 11-Jd. f.0.b., which price is said to constitute a record. It is stated that this butter lias been bought for export to France, where in all probability it will be converted into the finest Normandy Rolls, and re-exported to London, where it will bring a fancy price. The shipment for export by tho Kuapehu on. September 21 will consist wholly of butter and may run about 4000 or ,5000 boxes as far as can be learned. Tho Turakina, which left for London about tho. same time last year (September 21) carried IG,OOO boxes for London, but a good deal of this was probably out of cool stores, which are quite depleted <this season. Tho New Zealand Tepresehtativo of Messrs. Foley Brothers (Mr. Meadows), reporting on'the Australian market, says he has been advised that supplies are still very much backward in all States, especially in Queensland and New South Wales, where they have suffered very badly the need of rain, and after going through one of the coldest winters that has been experienced for twenty years stock in both theso States looks anything but in good condition. Theso States will not begin to export till tho end of next month, which will bo two months later than the time they started last year, and as all the cold storo .stocks are cleared there is not a box of winter butter now held in Australia, and fresh arrivals when reaching London are sure to give the buyers of colonial butters every satisfaction, and should be the means of building up a good market for the New Zealand product.