TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9168, 17 March 1910, Page 4

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

A London contemporary pays a deserved tribute to the A Union Shipping ComColonial pany, which now ranks Concern, as one of the leading companies of the Empire, a position which the whole Dominion can be proud of, since is the enterprise and ability of New Zealanders which has been responsible for the organisation of the concern. In referring to the progress of the Company the paper says:—The Union Company was the first to introduce the turbine into colonial waters. It now owns three turbine steamers. It is forcing the pace in the matter of wireless telegraphy, which has been introduced into its Vancouver service, and from the extension of which in New Zealand, Australia, and the islands of the Pacific it should greatly profit. It is building an hotel at Suva, Fiji, and at home it has an officers' and engineers' superannuation scheme on generous but none the less provident lines. _ Finally, it has acquired a sailing ship for the training of its junior officers, thus putting itself in this respect on a par with the White Star Line, and in froirt of the majority of the other British lines. From these things we form a clear opinion that this New Zealand company, though it may have its disappointments, possesses the instincts and the energies which go far to assure a great future.

The varying fortunes of the producer were never better illustratButter fed than by the position of Very 'the butter _ market at preFirm. sent. During tlife week a substantial rise was reported from London, butter going up to 130s per cwt. Last year the British buyers who bought up the outputs of the various factories at high prices made heavy losses owing to the London values falling. Consequently this year they were not so eager to buy in the Dominion, and many factories had to consign. Fortunately for them, butter has been very firm, and they will mostly reap a handsome return, which would have gone into the pockets of the British buyers if they had bought in the Dominion. Two-thirds of the 46,254 boxes of butter that went by the Corinthic were sent on consignment, and were landed in London on Mod ay, when top prices were being realised. At this time last year butter was selling tor 108s, a slump having followed. the phenomenal rise to 1525, caused by speculation. However, the present firmness of the market is due to other and more solid causes. Danish supplies t-o London are 5000 casks less per week than last year, and the supplies of European butter for the present English winter are estimated to be less & than last year, owing to the deficient and damaged hay crops during the summer. Germany and other Continental countries are also expected to be buyers of colonial butter on the London market before long. It is therefore probable that the produce will remain at its present level or may even go higher during the next few weeks.