WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1904. BUTTER FOR SOUTH AFRICA.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 8103, 5 October 1904, Page 2

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1904. BUTTER FOR SOUTH AFRICA.

The report of Mr Kinsella, in the annual report of the Department of Commerce and Industries, gives a very full account of jhe demand all our produce is meeting wfth in South Africa, and especially butter. It strjkjes us in respect to this latter, as providing the happy medium between the pessimistic report of the trader we lately spoke of, and the rather optimistic account of Mr Gow, treated of at the same time. But it is especially valuable as giving us warnings as to what to avoid, and showing us that if this is done, the most optimistic reports are not too flattering. For our butter is thus spoken of when presenting its best appearance, whifh should be the normal. "Although >fBW Zealand butter has had hard luck on

the Afpican markets. . . . it is a pleasure to a practical man to note how well it is made, the body, the texture. The general get up, including boxes, branding, and finish, I do not think can be beaten in any part of the world." But it must not be supposed because this is the quality and appearance of our butter when seen at its best, that it has always been so favorable to the eye and taste when displayed to Britain and Boer, in the New Colonies, or the old, in South Africa. We hope samples of exceptions and not of the pule prompted some to decry New Zealand's butter. JJut (h#t therp has been not a little poor stuff exposed for sale is certain, and that is it which 'has had to compote with Argentine for a place on the consumer's table. Of the Argentine butter Mr Kinsolla says :— The Argentine butter has the appearance of being poorly made ; it has a very greasy appearance, almost resembling lard ;' it has no character, is almoßt void of texture, and I am confident if it was put to the test which sMftc /)i joiy bujtt.er 1 j^s has £o undergo , , , that is if ft was heljd fpr

a whole year and exposed to all temperatures, it would in my opinion as 911 old experienced butter-maker, not be fit for anything else than axle-grease at the end of that time." And yet this poor stuff has two advantages over New Zealand : "It is paler in color than ours, which is preferred; it is also laid down fresher." It thus appears that after 12 months storing Argentine butter would be fit only for axle-grease, whilst the same treatment of New Zealand butter would render it only fit to compete with Argentine fresh. But Argentine is always sold fresh, and this added to its white complexion has given it a favorable place, whilst New Zealand in the past has been scored in this colony' for "j^PV months before being shipped, and Mr Kins'pfta" in 1 B.o'me ' pgeka/ges recognised old friends of a bygone year. South African buyers don't JppH ftt the date mark as a guide to quality, but they do scan the boxen for the Government grade-mark, and insist upon having the choicest stuff. With Mr Upw, Mr Jifnsella inspected a large quantity of New Zealand butter in Capetown, and ho says : "I, at that time, made the statement to him that it was to be regretted that New Zealand producers saw fit to hold such well-made batter until it considerably aged, and then to place it on a practically new market which s'nould have A large outlet for our produce in future, and to which market we should send only our ciuilfWi 1 jWlHty-" That "large outlet- for our produfti for % fofHtt" j§ t h e promise, prpvißjonaHy, whjpfe' fPPPJtM.- If) respect to tbo choicest quality, «iat js easily secured by sending It fresh, instead of marketing it with date-marks 12 months old. Mr Clules added another condition, "the lowest possible price." The r§4 $y$«9R 8 * W* ue '"' one °* 'Price, and $ in narrowed, fawn & $jf , £$ w<} get mere t<* 'm'mfcf&^-fß&ti&'&P** th»n w# (iftft K>»Jif§ in W*toW* If we cahnot It, Is »sele« »ufe»(4iiiflg beats tP carry it, for tha brightast pfospaetp being fulflllod in Bouth Atrk», in the lifetime of ourselves or oqr children, in extent of market, in demand, the now land cannot hope eren to approach the 'Old Country. Al quality alone is .the recommendaiibn qf our j&^!f tQ. Jkjuth Africa, so p^e« t^pne r i.\^e.soje^ttr^*m fiouth A/rtca Wi^ '/?£▼£ for us. • 'For preference or no preference, tv Irfl^JD the demand is perennial, and • relative to ont potential powers of supply, unliniiteo'. At ,Port EUuwbeth Mr Kinsella found a jarge jfrm vfjit^ an jmemnse Quantity of. ijew

Zealand butter, which was being sent up country and returned as of inferior quality. " I carefully examined a number of packages of the butter, and found it had deteriorated very much in quality, although the butter was well-made in the manufacturing process. The butter possessed a stale, or rather tallowy, flavor. In fact, some of it could be termed rancid, and hardly fit for cooking purposes." Lately some, we are sorry it is only some, of New Zealand's shipments "have opened j in excellent condition, and, as I have just ■ explained, if our people would endeavor to send such butters to Africa, I reckon we are sure to get a good look-in against all competitors." That is no more than we have always been promised and manufacturers would like to see the "good look-in" denned, and a reasonable certainty as to how it will "pan out." And here, perhaps, we have an opportunity of discovering what really are the returns made to the exporter for choice butter sold in South Africa. Among the butter Mr Kinseila found choice on the market was some branded "Eltham, and some "Bell Block." "Among the brands which I examined, and which could be called choice (and I say this without in any way advertising them, but merely givj ing them credit for assisting in building [ up a reputation for New Zealand butter as I a whole), was 'Bell Block,' 'Anchor Dairy Association,' 'Eltham,' 'Taieri,' and 'Peninsula' (Dunedin), 'Defiance,' and 'Pakcl:a.' " Can "Eltham" answer as to satisfactory price for its very satisfactory butter?