DAIRY PRODUCE TRADE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19124, 16 September 1925, Page 11

DAIRY PRODUCE TRADE.

GREAT BRITAIN'S IMPORTS.

LAST YEAR'S BUTTER SUPPLY NEARLY HALF FROM DOMINIONS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received 5.5 p.m.) A. and N.Z. _ LONDON. Sept. 14. The annual review of the importations of dairy produce into Great Britain for tho year ended June -30, issued by W. Weddell and Company, Limited, states that the most striking facts were the surprisingly heavy consumption of butter and cheese in the United Kingdom, and the moderately high retail prices. Despite the continued depression in export trades and the extensive unemployment the imports of butter were considerably larger than in any previous year. The average prices of dairy produce were appreciably higher than in 1923-24, although the stocks of butter stored in the United Kingdom at the end of the period wero heavier than at the beginning, and the quantities re-exported exceeded those of the previous year. The volume of butter consumed last year was much heavier than it had ever been before.. The Cheese Trade. Similar conditions prevailed in the cheese trade, states the report, but heavier supplies entailed a small reduction in the average wholesale values. Each source of supply within the Empire augmented its output of butter. Australia had a record output, the importations from tho Commonwealth having increased by 134 per cent., as compared with the previous year. The shipments from New Zealand and Canada also materially increased, the result being that the proportion of Empire butter imported last year represented 47 per cent, of the total arrivals in the United Kingdom, as compared with 35 per cent in 1923-24. Tho report states that the exports from most of the foreign countries last year showed a considerable reduction, but important quantities were received from Russia for the first time since early in the war. There was every indication that Siberian butter would soon regain its former position in the market. Eighty-eight per cent, of the cheese sup plies last year came from within the Empire. Shipments from New Zealand did not show any increase, but heavfer supplies were received from Canada and Australia. The export trade in Italian cheese was apparently growing steadily. New Zealand Butter. The quality of the general run of New Zealand butter, the report goes on to say, showed little or no improvement over that of recent seasons. The more extended adoption of the practice of the home separation of cream probably accounted for this fact. A larger proportion of second grade butter had been shipped by some factories. •It is stated that the quality of Australian butter showed a marked advancement. This was chiefly owing to the splendid season experienced in the Commonwealth, bnt it, also was largely due t-o a stricter system of grading and the universal use of the " Kangaroo " brand for the choicest butter. The same remarks, the report adds, applied with equal force to Australian cheese, the quality of which last season was exceptionally fine, while the crating aDd handling had also dislinctly improved as compared with the preceding year.