MARKETING CHEESE AND BUTTER

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 175, 12 April 1923, Page 4

MARKETING CHEESE AND BUTTER

NEW ZEALAND’S RIVALS

LESSONS FROM CANADA AND DENMARK

“The marketing of their products I’ very naturally and very properly receiving a great deal of attention from the farmers at the present. time. It is one of the most important of their year's operations, and the ono on which all the others, more or less intimately, converge. In many cases the rewards of a season’s labour, depends very largely upon the skill and judgment with which its fruits are handled in the lat.er stages of their progress towards tho consumers. Marketing, therefore, should engage the very serious "consideration of the farmers from every point of view.”

So reflected Mr. J. B. Mac Ewan yesterday when summing up a problem that is being much discussed just now. His own guide in the matter. Im said, would be the experience obtained by observation. .-More than thirty years ago the Canadian Government sent to, England Dr. Robertson, then the Dominion Dairy Commissioner. to visit the various markets of the Mother Country, to report upon their methods and to make recommendations. After an investigation extending -over two years, and entailing a vast amount of travelling and the closest possible inquiry, Dr. Robertson reported to the effect that the marketing, in tin. interests of the Canadian producers should continue along tho existing lines, through the importers, wholesalers and retailers that a high uniform quality should be maintained, and that the supplies should be placed upon the market at regular intervals.

Canadian Marketing Svstem. /Dr. Robertson’s vecommendationa wore adopted, and they remain tho basis of the Canadian system of marketing to-day,” Mr. Mac Ewan said. “The practice throughout the country is to sell on rail at various points from week to week, or from fortnight, to fortnight, and the result has given the farmers satisfaction through a long series of years. Competition is keen and full market values are paid. A few years ago a movement was initiated by the producers in the provine® of Quebec to consign their cheese instead of selling, but the results, were not encouraging and the shippers gladly reverted to the former practice. Persistent Denmark. The experience of Denmark has been much the same. The Danes have studied more closely the ' requirements of the British market than have the people of any other exporting country. Like the Canadians, they are persistent sellers from week to week at tho highest possible prices. The Copenhagen quotation committee, by the way, docs not, aa is generally supposed, fix the price for sales on the British markets. It morelv arranges the which are to be paid to the factories for the previous week’s sale.. The Danes have •rimed to supply a high quality article ••egulariy throughout the year, and herein lies the secret «f the good prices they are able +o command at all seasons. Of course, their geographical position —their proximity to tho British market—gives, them an enormous advantage in deliveries, but they leave nothing to chance. Co-operation Necessary. “New Zealand cannot alter its geographical position, though more regular means of transport will continue to modify this disadvantage. It can learn a great deal from Denmark and Canada, however, in the. way of marketing, and in maintaining supplies of high quality butter and. cheese the whole year round. British buyers of Canadian cheese and Daniish butter can calculate to almost a few hours when their supplies ■will be available. New Zealand cannot afford to leave Canada and Denmark’ with this immense pull without making some equalising movement. To bring this about all the interests concerned mush co-operate quickly and heartily.”