OUTPUT OF BUTTER

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 3 May 1934, Page 4

OUTPUT OF BUTTER

SEASON IN NEW ZEALAND EXPORT or 140.000 TONS OVER- NINE PER, CENT INCREASE LOCAL TRADE 23,500 TONS AUCKLAND, May 2. The official estimate of the production of butter in New Zealand during the 1933-34 season places the total at 108,500 tons, a total of 140,000 tons being for export, and 23,500 tons for local consumption.

The figure for local consumption does not vary greatly and a comparison is generally made on the export total. The output of 140,000 tons for export compares with ,127,799 tons produced in the previous season and 104,211 tons m the 1931-32 -sea-son. The increase based on the estimate, is 12,201 tens over the 1932-33 figure, or 9.5 per cent. The 1932-33 yield exceeded that of 1931-32 by 23,588 tons, or 22.6 per cent.

The official estimate no doubt - takes into account the falling-off jiyoutput o the Auckland factories; . especially in North Auckland, during • Marcli* and April. In those months the dry weather experienced had the effect of reducing individual outputs by as much ai9 15 per cent., compared with the butter manufactured an the corresponding months of 1933. Another factor is that

ip present season is likely to be shorter than last year, as many herds were brought in earlier, making the production in the opening months of the season phenomenally high. In the first month, August, an increase of 40 per cent, was recorded, but the rate of increase was successively reduced, and by the end of February it was down to 13 per cent. The price factor should make itself felt during the coming season, and this will tend to slow down the rate of extension in the industry. It would not bo surprising to see the. output settle at about 140,000 tons dmthe 1934-35 year. This is a logical outcome of the low prices and the better returns to be made out of sheep and possibly chilled beef.