DAIRY PRODUCE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 21 August 1924, Page 7

DAIRY PRODUCE.

INVESTIGATIONS AT HOAIE. BY AIR NEWTON KING. UNEASINESS ABOUT QUALITY. AUCKLAND, Aug. 18. Interesting remarks on the marketing of New Zealand dairy produce were made to-day by Air Newton King, of New Plymouth, who returned by the Niagara after a visit to England and the Continent. "The season has been an extraordinary one for prices at Home,” said Air King. “The ups and downs were more pronounced in the.middle of the season. Then there was a- sharp and continuous decline, with an equally quick advance, with steadiness, following. “On April 16 the market was at its lowest, and the Tooley Street merchants were very pessimistic. However, the price for butter advanced from 150 s to 174 s per cwt at the end of the month, and actually was 2s ahead of Danish butter. The rate then receded, and then advanced at the end of June to 184 s. “The total imports of butter into the United Kingdom for 1923 were 5,125,277 cwt. Of that total Denmark contributed 1,862,295 cwt and New Zealand 1,130,765 cwt. The average price of Danish butter over New Zealand was 10s lOd per cwt. For 10 months the difference was 7s Bd, and for the last two months it was 265. The proportion of Danish butter imported was 36 per cent to 22 per cent of New Zealand butter.

“The large disparity in price between Danish and New Zealand butter had attracted the attention of New Zealand producers. The Tooley Street merchants thought the principal cause was heavy German buying, enabling the Danes to advance their prices for the small quantities available for export, as there was..a demand in England for Danish butter at any price that was asked. The custom of the Danes was to sell heavily f.0.b., and two large English, firms Lad contracted to take one-third of the export balance for England at a price based on the weekly price. Copenhagen firms also sold to other buyers in England, particularly the north and Scotland, and the . balance unsold each Wednesday was shipped on, consignment to England, hut .011 the understanding that the butter had to be sold within one week. The Danish butter , was thus alwiiys fresh, and practically the same thing applied to Esthonia, Latvia, Sweden and Holland. “Siberia,” continued Air King, “which shipped large pre-war consignments, has recommenced exporting, and noiv sends 12,000 to 15,000 casks a week, principally shipped on consignment. Argentine export trade is increasing. That country’s export to the United Kingdom in i 923 was 491,256 cwt, and for the past five months of this year the shipment was 355,316 cwt, which is over 69,000 cwt in excess of the total for the corresponding period of last year, hut their quality is very inferior, and the price is 15s to 20s below that of New Zealand butter. People who are well informed stated that the export from the Argentine will grow very considerably in the next few years.

“As against the growth of imports from other countries there was a demand which would probably continue to grow, as great quantities were wanted for the United States, which had purchased heavily of Danish, New Zealand and Irish butter. From remarks made it would appear that the quantity they require will he very much more in future.

“I am sorry to report that the quality of New Zealand butter has gone hack considerably and, generally speaking, it is not well spoken of. The general impression is that too much bicarbonate of soda is used in the neutralisation of the cream, and most buyers complain of flatness and weakness. AVhatever is the cause, the Government Dairy Division should take steps to restore New Zealand’s good name. Complaints are also strong on the Pacific Coast of America*, where buyers of some years’ experience complained that this year’s quality was quite inferior, and one buyer said his customers hail refused to take any more of the New Zealand article.

“It seems quite apparent that the failure is due to some carelessness at this end. and not entirely to home separation, as some people believe. In many cases brands of home separated cream were highly spoken of. It will Ive advisable to raise the points for first-class butter. This, no doubt, would tend to make people more careful and desirous of having their butter graded as first class.” New Zealand cheese was well spoken of, but the weakness in London was a shortness of cool storage. That was felt, in a season like the last one. when low prices caused large quantities to be stored, but there was not sufficient room. Consequent deterioration in the cheese had brought the name of New Zealand down. The question of larger coo! stores would have to be taken up as soon as possible. Tn conclusion, Mr King sounded an optimistic note. There was. he said, no reason to he pessimistic, but he did not like to see the quality of New Zealand butter going down. To the consumer in England, he said. New Zealand was little known, and an advertising scheme which had been advocated should he inaugurated and entrusted to competent- men. The way it should he done was a matter for careful consideration, but the result would be most beneficial. New Zealanders were too apt to think they were well known, hut the masses had a very hazy idea- of the whereabouts of New Zealand. One man had asked him what part of Australia was it in. while another thought it was part of South Africa.