NO BUTTER FROM CANADA.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 1880, 27 March 1913, Page 3

NO BUTTER FROM CANADA.

Canada does not appear to be devoting great attention to the dairying business. At the present moment she is scarcely able to supply herself with butter. According to Mr J. A. Ruddick, Dairy Commissioner for the Dominion, not a single pound of Canadian butter has been shipped to Great Britain since March last. In 1903, the record year for exports to this country, over 34,000,0001bs were shipped. In 1911 British imports of Canadian butter were valued at £355,000. Last year the value had fallen to £145. "Indeed," says Mr Ruddick, "this great dairying country, one of Britain's principal sources of supply a few years ago, found it necessary year to to the opposite end of the earth (New Zealand) for supplies to feed her own people, and the indications are that the imports of butter into Canada this year will reach several million pounds." Mr Ruddick explains that in 1911 there were 106,000 fewer dairy cows on the farms of Ontario than in the previous year. It was the sequel to the distressing scarcity of farm labour. Unable to secure helpers, the farm - ers had been compelled to dispose of their cattle. Mr Ruddick further states that there has been no general decline in the dairy industry, and that there has been as much increase in milk production during the last ten years as there was during any similar period in the history of the industry. But the population of Canada has increased by over two and a halt' millions, and these people require enormous quantities of milk and milk products. Canada is stiil the largest source of the British supply of imported clieese.

~ Meanwhile the British consumer has turned to Australasia, though he still buys 10 1-3 million pounds sterling worth of butter from Den-

mark and million pounds worth from'' JCT**. „,