COLONIAL DAIRY PRODUCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13872, 5 October 1908, Page 7

COLONIAL DAIRY PRODUCE.

MESSRS. W. WEDDEL'S REVIEW.

..'.. FALLING.OFF IX SUPPLIES. -. . [FrtoSt 'QV& own COnHESPONTJEXt.] .; London, August 28. ■ Messrs. W. Weddex. and Co., in their. 14th annual review of tho colonial 'dairy produce trade, to the year ended June 30, observo: — "The irtbst distinguishing feature, of tho colonial dairy produce trade, for tho year ended Juno 30 was the very serious falling off -in supplies, amounting to 21,345 tons, which was a decrease of over 37 per cent, from, the > previous year, .'and nearly 9$ per cent, of the total supplies from all source.?. For the three previous years supplies of colonial butter had shown an. average of 55,500 tons, but , for the year tinder review they reached only 35,750 tons. This surprising shortage .was brought _,about by droughts in Australia, New Zealand, arid 'Canada. The total contribution which foreign butte'tmakers were able to make toward colonial deficiency of over 21,000 tons Was only 3200 tons.. " The rise in prices ought to have compensated coiotijal buttennakers by an increase in value for tho loss caused'by the short supply, and might have done so had there been no butter substitutes to interfere- with this. .Not since the year 1883 had butter in the United Kingdom sold at such a high level of value, and foreign buttermakers reaped an excellent harvest out of the. scarcity of colonial supplies. " On■,"looking broadly at .the .year under review," continue Messrs. Weddel, "it appears to establish definitely a new condition, which has gradually arisen during the past decade, regarding the supply of butter in the winter months, namely, the great and growing dependency oil tho colonies for butter during that period." Dealing particularly with imports of butter from. New Zealand, Messrs. Weddel mention, that the. greatest reduction in supplies of New Zealand butter ever known here was experienced during the year just ended. For the, four previous years the imports had gradually declined, but the shrinkage had been only small, amounting altogether to 1000 tons for the whole period, against a deficiency of 3360 tons in the past year. borhrriehiing upon the., quality, Messrs. Weddel write:—"The difficulty of maintaining the quality of butter mado under droughty conditions did not affect tho reputation of the out-turn of New Zealand butter lajjt year. Even in tho driest and hottest districts the flavour and texture showed no serious depreciation from tho previous year. With over 97 per cent, of the export butter having' been > for some years placed in the first grade, it is a question whether it might not now be advisable to make the grading more severe, and so raise the standard of quality even higher than it is at.present." As for the prices obtained, Messrs. Weddel express•■the Opinion that the year tinder review will long bo remembered as that which resulted in Mid highest record for prices ever reached by New Zealand and Australian butter in British markets. Tho top price for Australian better for tho six months ended ' October, 1907, to March, 1908, both months inclusive, averaged 120s lOd per cwt, New Zealand 112s 6cl, Danish 1275, and Siberian 115s 3d. For the month of February— period of highest values— tho Australian-top price averaged 1375,6 di per cwt, New Zealand 139s 6d, Daiiisli 1435, and Siberian 134s 6d. The crisis in February was brought about;. by the accumulation of deficiencies month by month since October. ' ■ • ■■■•■■ Relative ip grading, Messrs. Weddel note that New Zealand and Queensland stamp tho grade on every box; and tho system works to perfection. .Turniiiß, to. the subject; colonial, cheese; Messrs. Weddel state that during the last five yeiirs Hie fatal quantify imported has been 494,638 tons, against 399,421 tons during the previous five years, which shows an annual average increase of 19,043 tons, though last vear there was a' decrease of 4803 tons. 'Recent reduction in supplied from across the Atlantic has given an opportunity for the .Dominion, of New Zealand to rnako up some of tho deficiency, and in the past two years imports from that source have advanced from 5870 tons to 13,152 tons, and from tlib dry conditions existing at tho moment in parts of Canada, present appearances aro favourable for New Zealand to make further advances in the coming season. Improvement in quality cbfitinues to be shown. The interest and care taken by the Government in the manufacture and grading of New Zealand choose; and by tlib shipping companies in its carriage, have .also shown beneficial results, and there is a general acknowledgment hero that both flavour and texture are better than in former years. A very great advance- in the bribes of colonial cheese ill tlib United Kingdom has takoil place. '•'.,■ -■. , ~ ' •- .' In conclusion; Messrs. Weddel write:—"So far as can bo judged at present, the probability is that, the average,, values of both butter and Cheese clitflHg the coming summer will- be biVii somewhat lower level , than obtained in the past season."