WORLD'S DAIRY OUTPUT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20725, 19 November 1930, Page 7

WORLD'S DAIRY OUTPUT.

IMPORTS BY GREAT BRITAIN. INCREASE IN BUTTER TOTAL'. NEW ZEALAND'S HIGH QUALITY. [from our own correspondent.] LONDON, Oct. 17. W. Weddel and Company, Limited, lias issued its annual report—the 36th — on the imported dairy produce trade for the year ended June 30. The total importation of butter into Great Britain during that period amounted to 323,650 tons, as compared with 317,880 tons in 1928-29, an increase of 5770 tons, or 1.8 per cent. Out of last year's total 137,433 tons came from Empire sources and 186,217 tons from foreign sources. There was little variation in the totals from New Zealand, Australia or the Irish Free State, as compared with the preceding year, but Denmark and the Baltic countries shipped increased quantities, while decreases were recorded in arrivals from" Argentina, Russia and Holland. After reviewing the dairy season in New Zealand and the decline in prices during the past 12 months, the report says:—" The fall in prices on the London market caused considerable dismay among the dairy farmers of New Zealand, many of whom, with the price of butter down lo the level of 130s per cwt., will be hard put to it to make ends meet. A fair amount of forward business in cheese for season's outputs was done at BJd per lb. and many factories were able to make sales of the first half of the season's make at B£d net. f.o.b. These sales have proved extremely satisfactory from the farmers' point of view. " In spite of the rapidly expanding output the high standard of quality which has always been maintained for New Zealand butter remains unimpaired. Last season approximately 80 per cent, of all the butter manufactured was graded finest. The same, however, cannot be said with regard to cheese, tho quality of which has been the subject of some adverse critiqjsm from London. It would be a pity if the high reputation which New Zealand cheese has for so long held in this market should be jeopardised, and no doubt Now Zealand dairy farmers generally will quickly realise.that their best interests iic in refraining from shipping to this market anything that may compare unfavourably with the Canadian_product." Imports of Cheese, Imports of cheese, it is stated, were lower at 145,751 tons, as compared with 153,183 tons in 1928-29, a decrease of 7432 tons, or 4.8 per cent. The New Zealand total showed a small increase, but shipments from Canada (36,369 tons, as compared with 43,862 tons) and Australia were lower. In the foreign totals there was a 10 per cent, decrease from Holland, but Italy, Switzerland and the other countries sent practically the same quantity as in 1928-29. Over 80 per cent, of the cheese imported into this country comes from New Zealand and Canada. Tho average prices for the year; of the various descriptions of butter, were as follows: —Danish, 169s 8d; New Zealand, 157s 3d; Australian, 153s sd; Irish, 156s 2d; Argentine, 152s Id; and Siberian, 150s 6d. Cheese averages, 96s 5d for Canadian and 88s 3d for New Zealand. The report remarks that the season last year in Ireland was as usnal favourable for the production of butler, and exports of this country amounting t0.28,930 tons show an increase of 1654 tons over figures* of the previous year. There is no doubt that the dairying industry in the Free State is progressive, the intention being to develop along Danish lines. In quality and price Irish butter compares favourably with the products of other countries exporting to England. In the autumn of 1929 the London market value of Irish creamery butter was 164s to 1745, bub at the opening of the season this year the top price did not exceed 120s per cwt., and thereafter quotations fluctuated between 120s and 136s per cwt.. The next progressive step in the industry will be the establishment-of a, system.of winter dairying for Ireland. Plans for this development are being prepared. Output of Argentina. The total quantity of butter imported into England from Argentina for the 12 months was 15,704 tons, as compared with 17,105 tons in 1928-29, a decrease of 1401 tons, or 9 per cent. * Partly as a result of decreased production and partly because of an abnormal demand for Argentine butter by France during the 1928-29 season, many of the Argentine butter manufacturers, finding that they were obtaining comparatively high prices for butter of inferior quality, slackened the efforts which they had been making* to improve the quality of their product- Apparently the classification of cream in many factories, judging by the quality of some of the butter which has reached the English market, has not been so strict as it ought to be in order to enable Argentina to compete successfully with Australia, New Zealand 'and the Baltic States.