LONDON BUTTER MARKET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13096, 8 February 1906, Page 5

LONDON BUTTER MARKET.

THE PREMIER SAYS STRINGENT

LEGISLATION IS NEEDED.

[BY TELEGRAPH.PRESS ASSOCIATION".] Wellington, Wednesday. The Premier, referring to recent developments in the London butter market, says he is in communication with the High Commissioner on the matter, but has not yet received a reply. Mr. Seddon points out that some time ago he drew attention to tho danger of sending large shipments of nnsalted butter, and salted butter, too, for that matter, to Holland and elsewhere, to be used for purposes of adulteration. Recent prosecutions at Home showed the necessity for more stringent legislation to protect tho trade of the colony. It was probable that legislation would be introduced in New Zealand, and also recommended to tho Imperial authorities.

Inquiries made in Auckland yesterday regarding the drop in prices of butter on the London market, as referred to in the High Commissioner's cablegram, go to show that not only has New Zealand butter dropped considerably in price, but that Danish and other lines have fallen also. The season last year opened with low prices, which gradually increased, whereas this year the best prices were obtained at the beginning of tlie season, and the fall has taken placo towards the end; but the stringency of the situation is accentuated by the fact that dairy farmers are suffering somewhat acutely this season by the prolonged dry weather. The drop has been from 116s to 106s per cwt for best New Zealand brands, and from 124s to 114s for best Danish, a fall of 10s per cwt, which is a very serious matter for exporters at the present moment. Fuller information as to the cause of the slump is not obtainable locally. With regard to the adulteration of New Zealand butter it may be mentioned that inquiries are constantly being made at Home for butter without salt, but makers in the colony have not been disposed to meet this, as they would perfer to add the salt themselves, which is well understood, for assuming that a purchaser at Home bought a line of unsalted New Zealand butter, to which he adds salt at, say £3 per ton, the profit on a large quantity would be considerable, when resold at £100 to £110 per ton. The New Zealand butter leaves the colony ready for the table, and requires no treatment, such as " milk blending," or "breaking-down" with clarified suet, to which some other imported butters are subjected at Home by firms making a business of this practice.