MARKETING SCHEMES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21990, 22 December 1934, Page 20

MARKETING SCHEMES

SUBJECTS FOR DISCUSSION BUTTER AND LIVESTOCK FJROM OUR AGIUCUI/rUHAI- COMtIvSrON J)KNT LONDON, Oct, 31 Marketing schemes present one of the most popular subjects for discussion in tho majority of English homes at the present time. It might bo reasonable to suggest that the Butter Scheme bo added to tho list. Free State butter is quoted on the English market at 71s per ewt., yet Free State butter cannot he quoted on the Free State market under Is -Id per 11). New Zealand butter is sold 011 the English market at 72s per ewt,., but the average price in the Dominion is somewhere in the region of 9.">s per ewt. Ihese figures cannot possibly lead to confidence on tho part of the butter producer of England. Even the consumer, who is endeavouring to take an intelligent interest in tho Marketing Schemes, might find it less difficult to understand tho butter problem if the niarketing of this particular commodity were dealt with under more systematic organisation. With so much butter ill stock, and with so much mure to come on to the market to bo sold at these varying figures, it seems feasible, from the producer's point of view to suggest that if schemes are to be continued wo might have another one added to the list. Selling Store Cattle 1 Tho cattle trade during tlio month of October received a good many shocks. Tho fluctuations wero caused by tho increased numbers of store cattle that wero passed through the ,fat i rings. Unfinished cattle were presented with a view to taking advantage of the subsidy, 5s a ewt.. that came into force on September. This was really bad marketing, and although tho market will find its level these methods wero responsible for the disorganisation of fat cattle trade. Many heifers that were intended for breeding went to the butcher, a fact which is bound to affect the dairying industry at some future date. Selling store cattle as fat animals may be looked upon as good business from the point ot' view of many interested in the live stock trade. But selling methods of this kind are almost bound to stimulate the demand for the importation of more store cattle, with the result that n large proportion of the subsidy will be transferred to the Free State, and Great Britain will not reap the full benefit. The scientist and the engineer, both partly responsible for the world's economic changes, are largely responsible for many of the problems as we see them to-day. Machinery, tractors and harvesters have reduced the number of horses used for agricultural and other purposes, much in the same way as machinery has displaced many of" the human beings who were at one time engaged in the various industries of the world. Happily, however, the market shows that there is still a demand for the right type of draught horse. At the Lanark horse sale, which was held at the beginning of October, £IOO was paid for an aged gelding. A two-year-old filly was purchased for £120" One purchaser procured a yearling filly for the sum of £135. One foal met a new owner at £l2O, while another foal reached the figure of £l3O. The autumn horse sale held at Crewe attracted buyers who presented a keen demand for suitable types of animals. Geldings were making up to 80 guineas, and foals were selling for prices ranging to 00 guineas. Value ol Advertising Army and other authorities maintain that we are a C 3 nation. Many of the men who try to enter the Army, and a large percentage of others who are employed in the industrial areas, are said to bo suffering from under nourishment. This state of affairs can be rectified, according to certain members of the community, by increasing the consumption of liquid milk. Ihe necessary changes in the dieting or these people are going to be introduced bv arranging a milk advertising scheme, which will teach many thousands of our citizens the errors of their ways. But it is well known that if many of the men who try to join the Army had been fortunate enough to have been in possession of the necessary money with ! which to purchase milk, they would not have been trying to enlist. And it would be rather foolish to suggest that mothers in the industrial areas are so ignorant that they would deprive their children of this very valuable, commodity if they were in a position to procure it. Tho business magnates maintain that advertising is essential. Numerous successful business men o\\e their successes to placing 011 the market good quality goods at reasonable prices. Apart from advertising, it would be interesting to learn if the price of milk is right from the standpoint of the consumer, and if not how it could be rectified to meet the purses of tho masses who are the only people to effectively increase the consumption of milk.