DAIRY EXPORT TRADE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 268, 27 October 1932, Page 11

DAIRY EXPORT TRADE

REVIEWED BY MR lORNS. Mr W. lorns, chairman of the New Zealand Dairy Board, in an address at Dunedin last week-, said on present indications New Zealand production this season would be up by 15 per cent, on that of last year. He said it looked as if New Zealand would have an excellent output this year, although >rices might be disappointing. It was thought that butter would hold up until Christmas, but things had not been too good. In the matter of cheese the margin between white and coloured was unfortunate, and he was hoping the two would become closer. It would react against coloured cheese in New Zealand if the disparity persisted for the whole year. Lowering of tariff barriers in 1 rance and Germany should improve prospects a little. The cheese position hinged wholly on prices, and with beef, mutton. and lamb at very low prices the outlook was not too bright. Quick rises in price were not wanted. Rather they should look to a gradual return to normal price levels. Until that came farmers must do all in their power to cut down high costs. In this connection he thought help should come from the Government in the form of reduced railway charges on produce. Referring to shipping, Mr lorns said the board had been hampered by labour troubles. There was difficulty at Auckland now with a boat which should arrive for the Christmas market. With a bountiful season it would be a great pity if such troubles held them up. Shipping delays now would mean trouble at the peak periods, so that it was necessary that a settlement should be reached immediately. Mr lorns also said that the 15/- preference obtained at Ottawa was pleasing, particularly as with 15/- on Danish butter the net price would not return a living price. Danish production this year had decreased by 8 per cent., and her producers could not make a fair margin of profit with prices below 150/or 160/- per cwt. Lately they had been getting no more- than two-thirds of that figure, and if prices did not improve they could not buy feed for their cattle. Present feed costs in Denmark were £8 per year per cow, as against £l2 a few years ago, but even that did not help the Danish farmer much. He was really in a bad way.