COLONIAL BUTTER IN LONDON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13148, 10 April 1906, Page 5

COLONIAL BUTTER IN LONDON.

AX EXPLANATION.

[by TELEGRAM.— ASSOCIATION*.]

Wellington', Monday. With reference to the report in Saturday's London market cablegram, that the quality of the bulk of the colonial butter on offer was unsatisfactory, statements made by the heads of firms engaged in the butter trade make it practically certain that the message refers to Australian butter. After seeing the message, Mr. J. G. llarkness, secretary of the National Dairy Association of New Zealand, said : " All butter exported from Australia and New Zealand is looked upon as colonial butter, but so far as we know here from the grading of our own butler for shipment, the quality this season is equal to, if not better than, the previous season's butter. Therefore I think the cablegram refers more especially to Australian butter. In looking through the principal Australian newspapers, you will find l it stated that lie quality of Australian butter is not up to the mark this season. The last telegram received here from the High Commissioner, dated April 2, states: ' The market is- unfavourably affected by large quantities of medium quality.' We interpret that to mean that it does not refer to the New Zealand article, as shown by prices, New Zealand being 99s a cwfc, as compared with Australian 93s a. cwt." Mr. ITarkness' view was borne out by Mr. J. B. MacKwan (of J. 15. MaeEwan and Co.), who said: " The telegram must apply to Australian butter, for the simple reason that no complaints come through as far as we are aware in connection with the best New Zealand brands, while it is understood in the trade that a fairly large percentage of Australian butter has been unsatisfactory."