BUTTER FOR PACIFIC COAST

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2346, 16 January 1926, Page 11

BUTTER FOR PACIFIC COAST

INACTIVITY OF DAIRY BOARD MR. H. SEIFERT’S STATEMENT CONFIRMED. A good deal of interest has been evinced in the remarks made by Mr. Herman Seifert, of Palmerston North, with reference to the possibility of selling New Zealand butter on the Pacific Coast, states the Auckland “Star.” Inquiries amongst Auckland produce merchants left the impression that no business is being transacted with the Pacific Coast from this quarter, and the matters mentioned by Mr. Seifert were receiving little or no attention. It was quite obvious, either as the result of unsatisfactory experience In the past or from ignorance of the position, the average dairy produce merchant has not been worrying whether the housewife of San Francisco, Seattle and Los Angeles pays 3/- a lb. for her butter or whethel she gets Danish when she might bo buying New Zealand. One thing was made clear, that all sorts of difficulties were placed in the way when New Zealand tries to sell butter on the Pacific Coast, and, frankly speaking, th e American produce dealer is not liked by the merchants on this side. In those cases where efforts hav Q been made to do business with America it has usually been through New York and Boston, which feed the teeming populace of the Eastern States. The Pacific Coast market is infinitesimal by comparison. During the inquiries made It came out incidentally that the farmers of Canada ate no n>ore willing than those of TJ.S.A. to relinquish any portion of their dairy business to this country.

The ‘‘Star’* representative was shown a letter in which it. was stated that, tho farmers of Alberta had entered into a contract with the produce merchants of Vancouver to supply them with butter throughout the whole of the present season at a parity wlfh New |Zealand prices, provided the merchants on their part agree not to stock New Zealand.

One Auckland firm, with headquarters in Wellington, stated that inquiries had been received from the Pacific Coast, and quotations of 1/5 per lb. f.o.b. had been given, but that Australia had cut In with a quote of 1/4Jd, and would probably get the business.