DAIRY INDUSTRY

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 272, 15 October 1927, Page 9

DAIRY INDUSTRY

BUTTER MARKET aUIET. CHECK IN HOME SALES. ADVANCES BY DISTRICT FACTORIES. Big increases in milk supply are reported by the various dairy companies in the district—3o per cent, in one ease as compared with the same month last year. Questioned as to the factors responsible for this increased supply, one company secretary stated that the spring had befen the best for many years as regards mildness and growth. On top of that, there had been a great deal of top-dressing done, in addition to fanners having given more attention to the culling of herds. In the last day or two there has been a check in the sales at Home, and, while ten days ago factories were advised by their London agents that they could draw Is 6d per pound against shipments, these instructions have since been cancelled and the drawing reduced to Is 4d. One company’s agent was unable to account for the reduction, but was of the opinion that it was not warranted by the statistical conditions at Home, and he expected to hear of an improvement very soon. In some quarters the check is attributed to the recent assumption of limited control by the Dairy Produce Board. By circular letter of September 14, the board notified its intention to assume limited control on September 30 at midnight and, further, that shipping licenses would not be issued to the various companies unless and until the factories signed an undertaking that they would comply with conditions set out in tho circular. In order that there should be no hitch in shipping arrangements, nearly all factories have signed this undertaking under protest. The chief clause to which objection is taken appears to be that relating to audit of the Tooley Street accounts should the board desire to have this work done.

The quietness of the market is taken as an indication that these conditions are not acceptable to the Tooley Street merchants, and it is thought that, if they are withdrawn in the same way as the absolute control conditions were withdrawn, butter will start to move again. Advances to be made to suppliers by various district companies this month are as follow : Shannon (butter) Is 6RI, Newbury (cheese) Is 6d, New Zealand Farmers’ Dairy Union (butter), Is 6d, Kairanga (butter and cheese) Is 6d, Palm Dairy Co. (butter) Is 6d.