OUTPUT OF BUTTER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18520, 3 October 1923, Page 11

OUTPUT OF BUTTER.

season's GOOD PROSPECTS.

YIELD IN SEPTEMBER.

TOTAL OF 92,566 BOXES. -

The number of boxes of butter received for grading at tho Auckland Farmers' Freezing Company's store during September, shows a fairly substantia] decrease, compared, with' the number received in the corresponding month of last year. The figures for 1923 and 1922 are 92,566 and 115,820 respectively, tho •decrease beiDg 25,254 boxes. The reason for this lies in the fact that" the past winter was an unusually hard one. Feed was scarco owing to the cold weather and the cattle came in in poor condition. The recent rains followed by warm days, however, have niado a vast difference, and it is confidently expected that there will be plenty of feed before long. The outlook for this month is ■ thcrcforo considerably better.

During September a total of 108,504 joxes were shipped or .delivered, compared with 6411 last year. This heavy discrepancy is accounted for by the fact that there were practically no shipments in September, 1922, a great clearance of butter taking placo a few weeks later. Stocks an hand on September 30 last numbered 29,964 boxes, compared with 143,516 boxes on the corresponding day in 1922. During the three months from July 1 to September 30, 152,989 boxes were received, and 169J27 shipped or delivered. The figures last year, were 173,667, and 58,411 respectively. : Cheese supplies .show a large increase over last year, the number of crates received for grading being 6550, compared with 1151 in 1922, while 3751 crates were shipped, as against 314 in the previous year. Stocks on hand on September 30 numbered 4575 crates,' compared with 2483 crates on the same day in 1922. During the three months. July, August, and September, 8743 crates were received, .and 6768 shipped or delivered, the figures for the corresponding period last year being 1781, and 16,013 respectively.

THE LONDON BUTTER MARKET.

SATISFACTORY . OUTLOOK.

The London market for butter is very firm, and offers arc still being made at Is 7d a lb., f.0.b.. at New Zealand ports. The spot London market stands at. from 200s to 2025, which equals the f.o.b. price now being offered. As offers are being made for Odtober-made * butter, which cannot possibly be shipped before November, the indications point to the present satisfactory prices being maintained until well into January. The fact that no attempt has yet been made to purchase November-made butter is probably duo to the uncertainty regarding shipping, brought' about by the recent dockers' strike in Great, Britain.

.There is at present no indication on the part of the factories to accept Is 7d a lb., and this leads to the belief that buyers may yet advance beyond that price to secure October-made butter. The local market prices are at present Is 6Jd for superfine grades. Is 6d for first grade, and Is sd> for second gr?de. Considering that first grade butter is being sold at Is 7d, f.0.b., in bulk, .and the Is 6d wholesale price represents only Is 4gd f.0.b., it is obvious that if the present strength of the London market continues, the'local prices will shortly increase. - The market for cheese, in London is verv strong, and is equal to about 10£ d a lb., f.o:b. This price has been paid for outputs to the end of October, while 10£ d has been paid for outputs to the end of November. If anything, however, buyers are riot now so keen to offer these prices, as they were a week ago.