DAIRY PRICES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 25 October 1924, Page 7

DAIRY PRICES.

GHEIESE STEADY. BUTTER MARKET BARE. . Din ing the ])ast few weeks the quantity of _ milk received at the dairy factories in South Taranaki has been excellent, the supply being greater than that of the corresponding period of last year. Cold winds during the past few days have had only a, temporary detrimental effect on supplies.' Concerning the selling end of the business, it might be stated that the butter -market has upset the calculations of the agents, who expected the 'market to have declined before now. The disturbing factor has been the German buying of Danish and Continental supplies, which has resulted vh practically the. clearing of the British market;, which, at the present time, is almost bare of stocks. Although butter prices have been ruling high during the last two months the benefit has not been felt by New Zealand producers to' any appreciable extent, as there have been practically no New Zealand supplies on the market, The first of the season's supplies of both butter and cheese is reaching the market now. but during November and December there will be very heavy arrivals of both butter and cheese. The general consensus of opinion is that butter prices must decline when New Zealand supplies reach the market in any quantity. Buyers have entirely withdrawn, and this is an indication' that they consider the future of the butter market uncertain. A feature of cheese prices this spring has been their steadiness.; The market lias kept between 92s and 965, the violent fluctuations experienced during previous springs having been entirely absent. There have been very few sales of cheese this season, and the opinion has been held bv some that the tour of the Control Board’s delegation has bad some influence on the buying offers for both butter and cheese. Dairy factory suppliers lia-ve cause to be pleased with the work of the Dairy Control Board, which has resulted in a very favourable marine insurance contract being effected covering butter and cheese/right from “in the factory to the London warehouse.” The rates show the substantial reduction of 3s and 4s per cwt, Avhich works out at a saving on the whole of the New Zealand produce exported of about £25.000. With regard to the new freight contract, whilst it is disappointing that there is apparently to be no. great, alteration in the service to be provided, nevertheless, it is considered that the reduction in freights is a great achievement for the Control Board. These reductions are: Butter from 4s 6d to 4s per box and cheese from Id per lb to 29-32nds of a penny per lb.