ENORMOUS GROWTH

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 264, 6 October 1936, Page 5

ENORMOUS GROWTH

BRITAIN’S BUTTER IMPORTS. NEW ZEALAND BENEFITS. According to the report of the New Zealand Dairy Produce Board for the year ended July 31, 1936, since 1915 the total importations of butter into the United Kingdom have more than doubled. The figures are:—

For 1934, New Zealand supplied 27.5 per cent, of the total imported : Denmark, 25.6 per cent; Australia, 21.6 per cent; and for 1935, New Zealand, 27.5 per cent; Denmark. 23 per cent., and Australia, 22 per cent. The consumption of butter per capita in Britain has risen from 14.761 b in 1924 to 25.211* in!935 (New Zealand’s consumption is 401 b per capita.) The consumption of margarine per head in Britain in 1924 was 12.341 b. It had fallen by 1935 to S.4lb, but in 1934 it had been 7.95 b. There has been a distinct improvement in the price realised for butter, as compared with the previous season, adds the report. For the 1934-35 season we gave in last year’s report the estimated average price realised for butter sent to the United Kingdom as 80s per cwt. For the 1935-36 season the estimate average price is 955, equal in Now Zealand currency to 105 s Id per cwt. f.o.b. The season opened at August 1. 1936. with prices in London at 93s to 94s for New Zealand salted butter, as against 78s to 80s the previous year. Tile price advanced steadily from August 1 to October 19, when the recorded price was 122 s to 128 s for salted, as compared with 64s to 70s at this date in the 1934-35 season. From that point prices gradually receded up to March 21, 1936, when the lowest point for the season was reached, viz., 80s to 81s, when prices began to steadily advance, reaching 112 s at the middle of June, dropping again to loos at the end of Juno. During July the market rose to 109 s, but at July 31 stood at 116 s. For the previous season the price at March 21 was 71s to 735, and at- June 30. SBs to 90s, rising to 93s at July 31. Brices of unsalted butter have shown greater variation than usual. The premium for this class of produce was from 8s to 10s per cwt. in August, hut hr the end of September it was at a discount of 2s per cwt. Before the close of October, the premium was 8s per cwt.., rising during December to 16s per cwt., falling off from that point gradually, till at the end of March the premium was Is per cwt., and during April, May and June prices of salted and unsalted butter were practically the same. CHEESE CONSUMOTION. The total cheese importations into the United Kingdom in recent years were as follow: 'lons

It has been difficult to understand the trend of cheese prices in recent years, the report adds. The total importations of butter into the United Kingdom over the last ten years have almost doubled, whereas with cheese tli© total quantity imported over the same period has remained practically stationary. In spite of this, cheese prices have falleu just as much, and as frequently, as the prices of butter. There is a growing belief that the food habits of the people of Great Britain are gradually changing, and that the tendency is along the line of a reduction in what may be called the heavier foodstuffs, which include cheese. Whether this is so or not, the fact remains that the increase per capita consumption which is so noticeable in butter, is entirely lacking with cheese. At August 1, 1935, cheese prices were 44s 6tl to 45s (id per cwt., practically on a parity with the price at the same date in 1934. By mid-Octo-ber prices had risen to 61s-625, compared with 48s-49s in the previous year. From mid-October onwards prices gradually declined to 495-50 s at the beginning of March, when a firming tendency set in, advancing through April and May until June 20, wthen 57s 6d-60s was quoted. During July a further increase was recorded, the month closing with white cheese at 62s to 62s 6d, and coloured at 61s to 61s 6d.

The trend of production is now towards an increase in the output of hotter, and for two years in succession there has been a substantial decline in cheese manufacture. What the effect of guaranteed prices will be upon this trend still remains to he seen.

1915 190.390 tons 1922 188,781 ” 1923 229,061 ” 1924 224,009 ” 1925 277,889 ” 1926 256,961 ” 1927 261,597 ” 1928 ... ... 274.307 1929 320,000 ” 1930 341.422 ” 1931 403.003 ” 1932 418.218 ” 1933 441.726 ” 1934 485,700 ” 1935 480,431 ”

1928 150,817 1929 149,780 1990 155,620 1981 144,288 1982 150,827 1988 151,988 1984 149,428 1985 135,660