DAIRY INDUSTRY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 12 January 1929, Page 8

DAIRY INDUSTRY.

INCREASED OUTPUT. DEPARTMENTAL FIGURES. ■ In a report on the output to December the Director of the Daily Division records a material increase in butter and cheese. Inter alia he says: “The figures show that the salted butter graded for .'December, 1928, were 12,285 tons, and the unsalted 394 tons, a total of 12,679 tons, compared with 11,997 tons salted and 618 tons unsalted, a total of 12,615 tons for December, 1927, an increase of 0.5 per cent. For the five months ended December, 1928, the respective quantities were 42,653 tons and 1,040 tons, a total of 43,693 tons compared with 39, 1 230 tons and 2,258 tons, a total of 41,488 tons for the corresponding period of the preceding season an increase of the preceding season an increase of 5.3 per cent. The cheese graded for December, 1928, comprised: White 9,237 tons, coloured 4,034 tons, a total of 13,271 tons comprised -with 8,201 tons white and 4, 271 tons coloured, a total of 12,532 tons for December, 1927, an increase of 5.8 per cent. The quantities f.or the five months ended December, 1928, were: White 27,115 tons, coloured 12,486 tons, a total of 39,601 tons, compared with 22,888 tons white and_l2,22>1 tons coloured, a total of 35/109 tons, for flic corresponding period of th-e preceding season, an increase of 12.7 per cent. Converting these figures into butterfat equivalent there is an increase _ of 7.41 per cent, in butter-fat production for the five months as compared with •the corresponding period of the 192728 season.

LONDON ADVICES.

In a circular from a London firm, issued by Dalgety and Company, Limited, dated November 14, it was noted that there had been a rise in the quotations for Danish butter and that this was “due to increased demand from Germany and a seasonal falling off in production.” There was a .shortage of 15.969 casks.

In explanation of the" position the firm states: “ There are standing special outlets f'or a more or less fixed quantity of Danish, and, as wo have pointed out many times before, when the surplus quantity / becomes small, either from, orders from Germany, or from- some other cause, then it is" possible to charge extreme prices, which may be out of relation to quotations ruling for other kinds.” Referring to- cheese the circularstates that a lowering of prices was to be expected at that time of the year, but “even at the lower level, prices of [New .Zealancl must be considered satisfactory, in "view of increased arrivals, the relatively low value of butter, and the fact that at this time of year buyers favour Canadian as against New Zealand. 'Supplies of oldseason’s New Zealand are now negligible, but sales have 'been taking place at 2s to 3s per cwt. over prices realised for new, buyers being willing to pay a few more shillings for matured cheese, whether 'Canadian or New Zealand. ’ ’

Th. e prices then ruling were better both for butter and cheese. The increase was slight for butter, but cheese showed at least nine shillings per cwt. above those of 1927.

The imports of New Zealand butter into the Ignited Kingdom showed an increase for October of 24.471 ewts. and for the period of ten months of 10,000 cwts.

In the case of .cheese a remarkable feature was disclosed by the report, that for October of 1927 only 31 cwt. were ’recorded as received while- for 1928 the total was 11,282 cwts., an indication of a much earlier and betterseason. Nor the ten month period, however, there was a decrease of 67,000 cwts, with an increase of Canadian cheese of 79,000 cwts.

A SOUND POSITION. The cable advice received this morning by Mr. Geo. H. Buckeridge from Messrs H. A. Bane and Co.. London, reads as follows : Now Zealand butter 186 s; market quiet but firm. Cheese, white 94s to 955, coloured 96s to 975; market steady. In regard to cheese the message indicates that coloured is in short supply. Some time ago the position in regard to price was reversed and most factories switched over to white, and the result of this has made itself felt. The experience of men in the business at Home is that normally the market absorbs two-thirds white and one-third coloured, and it would appear that factories would be well advised to adopt a definite policy and stick to that, having respect to the normal demand at Home. After the stress of the Christmas trade there is always a lull about New Year, and prices drop to some extent, because buyers stand off; but it would appear that a recovery has already set in. The position looks quite sound and such as to encourage a feeling of optimism for the future of the industry.