DAIRY PRODUCE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 110, 9 April 1926, Page 5

DAIRY PRODUCE.

PRICE OF BUTTER RAISED IN SYDNEY.

REPORT FROM LONDON

CHICAGO WHEAT QUOTATIONS

PASTORAL DISPUTE

BELGIAN FRANC.

DRY WEATHER IN HAWKE’S BAY,

GRADING FIGURES

DECREASE IN BUTTER-FAT FOR EIGHT MONTHS.

The figures of the Dairy Division of the Department of Agriculture show that the salted butter graded for March, 1926, totalled 6175 tons, and the unsalted 164 tons, a total of 6339 tons, compared with 6142 tons salted and 672 tons unsalted, a total of 6814 tons for March of last year - } a decrease of 6.9 per cent. For the eight months ended March, 1926, the respective quantities wore 52,318 tons and 2727 tons, a total of 56,045 tons -compared with 580,924 tons and 4006 tons, a total of 62,930 tons for the corresponding period of the preceding season, a decrease of 12.5 per cent. The cheese graded for March, 1926, comprised: White 5816 tons, coloured 3310 tons, a_ total of 9126 tons, compared with 5307 tons white and 2521 tons coloured, a total of 7828 tons for March, 1925, an increase of 16.5 per cent. Tho quantities for the eight months ended March, 1926, were: White, 39,608 tons; coloured, 22,255 tons; a total of 61,833 tons, compared ivith 38,255 tons white and 20,070 tons coloured, a total of 58,325 tons for the corresponding period of the preceding season, an increase of 6.0 per cent. 1

Converting these figures into butteriat equivalent, tliere is a decrease of' o.J per cent, in butter-fat production .r 1 el £?ht months, as compared oi Je corresponding period of the I'j24-2o season.

Stocks held in the various grading Ports afc March 31, were: Butter, 11,129 tons; cheese, 13,635 tons.

Dalgety and Coy., Ltd., in a circular from London dated February 2oth report as follows regarding dairy produce:— BUTTER. All descriptions of butter were in good demand during the latter half of January, as a result of which values generally advanced 4s to 6s per cwt., and at one period it appeared possible that finest New Zealand would touch 180 s and Australian 1745. The market, however, is in such a sensitive state that when this upward movement was talked labout 'and retail i prices were advanced Id per lb. in anticipation, trade immediately developed a quiet tone. Since that time the market gradually became extremely slow and values of New Zealand, Australian and Argentine receded 4s to 6s per cwt., but since then, on a little more buying, prices have recovered slightly. The statistical position appears to be sound, although there are two opposite factors to be taken into consideration. Imports djuring January show a very considerable increase, but on the other hand the overseas cargoes afloat were very much less than at the coresponding period last year. As will bo seen from the acompanying figures, the. total imports last month were 180,144 cwt. greater than in the preceding mouth of December, and 131,770 cwt. in excess of thoso of January 1825. Three countries in particular are eesponsiblo for the increased importation, the arivals from New Zealand being 103,320 cwt., Denmark 21,341 cwt., and Argentina 21,195 cwt. more than the quantities imported from those countries respectively in January last year. Sellers have naturally tried to take advantage of the falling off of the overseas cargoes afloat, which on 28th January totalled only 574,960 boxes (230,000 Australian, 311,940 Now Zealand. 32,420 Argentine) against a total of 1,084,454 on the same date a year ago, and the knowledge of this serious future shortage affected the market. Buyers operated very freely about the end of last month and a strengthening of the position resulted, especially, as at that time Danish, owing to a renewal of German buying, advanced 10s per cwt., arrivals from Denmark declining in one week from 39,598 casks to 31,013 casks. Quotations of thic description, owing mainly to a continuance of Continental demand, have advanced out of all proportions, as compared with other butter, and today 200 s has been made for spot goods, whilst the samo figure is asked "f.0.b." A good deal of butter has been taken off the market and is held I in cold store under instructions from j shippers, in addition to which the quanities being held back in Australia and New Zealand by order of the Coni trol Boards are 'hnown to buyers. "When large quantities are held under limits in cold store tmporary strengthens tho market, but it has also the effect of making buyers very cautious in their operation. • Imports of butter into the United King- ) dom for tho month ended 31st January: —

Total increase for ono month ending 31st January, 1926, as compared with same period of last year, 131,776 cwts. CHEESE. The market was exffromely quiet during three out of the past four weeks, the only noteworthy feature being the premium of 2s to 4s per cwt. that coloured Now Zealand has commanded over white. In the case of Canadian, however, the position is reversed, finest white realising 2s per cwt. more than coloured. This is another striking instance of the operation of the law of supply and demand. Prices continued steady during the fortnight following the date of our last report, and. at the beginning of this month coloured was selling at 105 s to 106 s, and white at 101 s to 102 s. Total stocks in London and the Provinces on Ist January were slightly, heavier than at the corresponding period last year, whilst values were i s to 11s higher. Imports from New Zealand during January showed an increase of 88,823 cwt. over January, 1925, and of 145,931 cwt. over December, 1925. With these figures in the possession of buyers, a falling off in demand was a natural result. Values in consequence fell, until finest coloured wus offered at 101 s and white at 98s, and we know of 96s having been accepted. These lower rates eventually stimulated the general demand, and during the last few days we are glad to be able to report a recovery in prices, white

to-day being worth 100 s to 101 s, and coloured 103 s, 104 s. Canadian has varied slightly, finest Septembers being quoted at 103 s to 110 s, with other descriptions procurable at Os to 8s less. Imports of cheese into the United Kingdom for the month ended 31st January:

The Now Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Coy., Ltd., have received the following cablegram from their London house under date 7th inst.j Butter: Now Zealand choicest, 1725, 1745, exceptionally, 1765. Cheese, 965, 98s. Market quiet.

SYDNEY, April 8

The wholesale price of butter has been increased by 9s 4d to 196 s per cwt. —Press Association.

AUSTRALIAN MARKETS. SYDNEY, April 8. Wheat is quiet on the basis of 6s Id per bushel ex trucks Sydney for farmers' lots and bulk 5s lid. No large parcels are on offer. Oats, Tasmanian Algerian 5s 3d per bushel, white 5s 9d. Maize, local yellow 6s 3d per bushel; white, 6s; South African 6s. Potatoes, Tasmaman, £l6 to £l7 10s per ton; Victorian, £ls. Onions, Victorian, £23 per ton. —Press Association. ADELAIDE, April 8. Wheat, growers' lots 5s lid to 5s llsd per bushel. —Press Association.

CHICAGO, April 7. Wheat quotations: May, new, 1 dollar 58 cents, per bushel: old, 1 dollar 57 cents; July, 1 dollar 36J cents; September, 1 dollar 31£ cents. —Press Association.

CLAIM FOR NEW AWARD

SYDNEY, April 8.

Consent having been given by counsel for the Graziers’ Association and the Australian Workers’ Union, the High Court ruled that a dispute not confined to any one State existed in the pastoral industry. The result of this decision is that the Federal Arbitration Court will commence the hearing to-morrow of the claim of the Australian Workers’ Union, representing 40,000 workers, for a new award in the pastoral industry. Nearly 3000 respondents have been cited. Uvidenco will be heard regarding the conditions in all States except West Australia.— Press Association.

EXCHANGE IMPROVEMENT

LONDON, April 7

The remarkable improvement in exchange of tiio Belgian franc in London, which opened at 130 j and closed at 124 g, is the sequel to a visit of the Belgian Finance Minister, M. Janssen, to the Treasury, as a result of which all exterior debts of Belgium and the Belgian Congo to Britain have been definitely settled.—Reuter.

DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON DAIRYING.

NAPIER, April 8. Tlio long spell of dry weather has had a detrimental effect on tho dairying industry in Hawke’s Bay t and tho season already shows signs of drawing to a close. Twelve months ago produce was coming forward for grading in large quantities. Butter graded at Napier during February and March totalled 6760 boxes, whilst in the same two months of 1925 the output was 11,289 boxes. The output of factories which are sending their produce to Napier for grading for the present season to date is 35,687 boxes of butter and 1086 crates of cheese, showing that the establishment of Napier as a grading port was justified.

FOREST ENTOMOLOGY. In tho course of his foreword _ to the Sltats Forest Service bulletinForest and Timber Insects in New Zealand—Mr David Miller remarks: "In the past, forest entomology has been neglected in New Zealand, and although at present there are insufficient data available, except in some isolated cases, from which a computation can be made of the actual loss due to insects, there can be no doubt that a ve/y appreciable amount of depreciation takes place, the full extent of which will be recognised, and a great deal of it prevented, only when a better knowledge of the forest and timber insects in the Dominion is at hand. A review of the forest history of such countries as Europe and North America will reveal _ that the annual loss directly due to insect depredation is enormous; and we have ample evidence that the same condition prevails, and has prevailed, in this country both in our native forests and exotic plantations.'*'

A remit adopted by the anmial conference of South Island Progress Leagues at Dunedin yesterday was as follows: "That the Department of Agriculture l>o complimented on the initial work carried out in connection with the Boys’ and Girls’ Agriculture Club movement throughout the Dominion and that in the opinion of the delegates the club movement should be considerably extended and reorganised to bring it into line with club work as being carried out so successfully in other countries.”

1 1 1924. 1925. 1926. From. Qv/ts. Cwts. C-vvts. 5,548 708 — 8,819 15,000 14,077 7,767 4,652 ll,34i 130,318 116,682 148,023 1,104 3,513 3,804 1,888 188 455 15 5,761 — 74,277 54,391 75,585 Irish Fieo State . 5,394 3,720 6,46'i 59,552 168,478 137,900 129,001 164,495 267,815 1 777 27i Other countries ... Total 1,432 2,510 6,912 425,116 540,875 672,651

1924. 1925. 1926. From. Cwts. Cwts. Cwts. 20,620 10,894 15,35b 8,885 12,011 9,898 United States .... 1,288 1,953 753 Australia 2,406 13,650 9,965 93,884 170,452 259,275 18,038 57,606 48,379 Other countries ... Total 3,231 5,413 4,133 148,352 271,979 347,761 Total increase for one month ending 31st January, 1926, as compared with same period of last year , 75,782 cwts. ■