NOT IN JAPAN

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 113, 15 May 1934, Page 10

NOT IN JAPAN

MARKET FOR N.Z. BUTTER

KOBE .MERCHANT'S LETTER

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, This Day.

'A sharp contradiction of statements that a profitable market awaits Kew Zealand butter in Japan is seen in. a letter -received in Auckland from aa' English merchant in Kobe who has been associated with Eastern trading for thirty years. ''.'"-."

I "Writing under date April 6, the merchant said that the butter producers of Hokkaido had completed their programme for next season's production, which they estimated at 2232 tons. Greater activity' would 'ba directed towards export, and it was understood that the Government would grant-a subsidy of £3000. It was also understood that particular attention would be paid to the Shanghai market. With regard to the homo (Japanese) market, wholesale prices' had been fixed ranging from lOd to 13d a lb. ■

"Japanese butter producer's are protected by an import duty. of 37 sei (or more than sd) per lb, and are subsidised for export shipments," tho merchant concludes. "This is frankly; a situation which very effectively prevents the importation of butter on. anything but a very small scale."