DAIRY PRODUCE

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 82, 31 December 1929, Page 8

DAIRY PRODUCE

PROSPECTS SATISFACTORY INCREASED COMPETITION DUTY TO STUDY MARKEKT Dominion Special Service. Auckland, December 30. Prospects for New Zealand’s dairy industry are satisfactory according to Mr. J. B. Mac Ewan, the well-known Wellington dairy produce merchant, who returned by the Aorangi from, a trip to England. Dairy farmers, however, would have to keep pace with all developments in production in order to maintain their position in the world’s markets. “New Zealand butter is meeting with increased competition, chiefly from Continental producers.” Mr. Mac Ewan said. “The producing conditions on the Continent appear to be favourable, and those in the industry are using up-to-date methods to produce butter of excellent quality. It is imperative that New Zealand butter should not fall below standard, but that constant attention should be paid to efforts to improve the quality. In spite of the competition the market for New Zealand butter is extending. ■Sales outside the London market are increasing, and there can be no doubt that there is a large market awaiting development in the North of England. Direct shipments would help to extend the New Zealand markets in this quarter.” Shipping Services. Better and more regular shipping services were necessary in order to keep the Dominion’s primary products to the fore. Faster services might prove more costly, but Mr. Mac Ewan thought that regular steamers running direct to the English market ports would prove of great assistance to exporters. “Concerning the immediate future, the opinion is generally held in England that Australian production will exercise a considerable influence on the London market,” added Mr. Mac Ewan. “If there are heavy exports from Australia a drop in prices is likely. However, this does not alter the fact that in England there is very considerable good-will toward New Zealand’s primary products. A Defect. “It appears to me that New Zealand producers- are not closely enough in touch with English requirements, principally in regard to texture and flavour of cheese. There is an exceptionally good market fob cheese, but it must be to the taste of the market in this respect. There must be general co-operation between the producers and exporters or considerable ground may be lost. “New Zealand frozen meat continues to be in good demand, and there are excellent prospects for the development of a market for frozen pork in right sizes and weights.” Duty to Study Market. “It is absolutely necessary for everybody to work together on broad, national lines. The value of Imperial trade is recognised now more perhaps than it has been in the past, but it is.our duty to study the requirements of our overseas markets and do our best to meet them.”