FRISCO BUTTER MARKET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14568, 3 January 1911, Page 6

FRISCO BUTTER MARKET.

AN AUCKLAND CONSIGNMENT.

PROSPECTS OF TRADE.

[from our own correspondent.]

San Francisco, November 30. There is disappointment among San Francisco importers at the failure of the first shipment of butter by the Aorangi to pass the tests* of the pure food inspectors. One small lot of some 15 boxes did pass the test, and the quality was found good — so good that the firm to which it was consigned is confident of building up a permanent trado in New Zealand butter. But the rest of the shipment was sent back.

With the actual quality no fault" was found. But tho presence of boric acid was detected. Though the percentage was very —necessarily so as the shipment bore tho New Zoaland graders' certificate—it caused tho condemnation of the butter. For the pure food laws forbid the importation of food products containing the slightest trace of this preservative. Salt is the only butter preservative that may bo used.

The' firm of Atkins and Kroll was the fortunate importer of the one lot of butter that was free from boric acid. An Auckland company that was familiar with the American requirements had shipped it. It was just a, small trial shipment, as Mr. Kroll informed your correspondent.

"Tho quality of the butter," he added, "is excellent. In fact it is equal to the best American creamery butter. However, it has to sell here at a lower price than tho creamery; because it has been refrigerated, and all refrigerator butter lias to be branded as such before being placed on sale. But the freezing didn't really hurt its quality. I took some of the butter home, and after a day or two some of it was brought on the table ' without my knowing. I couldn't tell any difference from the local butter.

"There was no profit for us in this shipment. I understand the market was exceptionally high in New Zealand this year. The butter cost us about Is per lb, free on board at. Wellington. Perhaps we had to pay" more than the regular price, because wo got the butter specially packed.

"If we could get New Zealand butter free on board at. anything up to lOd per lb, we could run the business at a profit. There is an enormous duty of six cents, a pound, but even with that we could compete with the local cold storage butter, which sells at about 32£ cents, wholesale. I am hoping that next season, or, perhaps, later this season, we shall bo able to do busness in New Zealand butter."