MORE MARGARINE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22928, 5 January 1938, Page 7

MORE MARGARINE

HIGH BUTTER PIIICES EFFECTS IN ENGLAND POSITION, QUICKLY EXPLOITED i [FROM Of 11 OWN COIWKSPONUENT] LONDON, Dec. 18 Figures of margarine consumption in Britain for the past four mouths show the marked increase that occurred during the period of rising butter prices. The average weekly deliveries during August were .'5200 tons, in September .'ISOO tons, in October 3800 tons, and in November 4:300 tons. The last figure is the highest reached for many years, and it coincided with the highest retail butter price for a considerable time —from Is 6d to Is Od.

Opinion in England is that recent events have clearly shown $ sharp restriction in demand when butter rises above Is 4d per lb., together with a. rapid increase in the use of margarine. This is so under present conditions when prices of many commodities have risen and .wages have lagged behind.

It is as yet too early to say what effect the lower retail butter prices of the present month have had on margarine sales, but it is stated that after a change-over from butter has occurred, it invariably takes more than a return to the original level to recapture the trade. Usually the original price has to be undercut to tempt consumers again. The recent increase in margarine use was "not due only to the high butter prices. Those in close touch with the trade report {hat the position was eagerly seized on by margarine manufacturers and that an intensive campaign has been conducted in the country in recent months. Certain aspects of it are obvious. There has been a large amount of newspaper and poster advertising, and in some instances leading firms of grocers have exhibited placards stating that while butter is too dear, margarine is available at very low rates. It is stated that special inducements have been offered to proprietors, managers and salesmen to increase sales.

The price of margarine varies from 4d per lb. for poor quality to 8d per lb. for the best grades. It is sold in a well-finished and standardised form and the better qualities look and, in fact, aro, very palatable. It is a much more attractive article than in the past. With prices for butter now on a level more within the capabilities of the consumer the demand for it is again expanding. but more slowly than would have been the case if prices had merely risen to a moderate figure instead of the high level reached. Authorities in England consider that while high prices may be attractive to the producer, on the long view a more moderate price, free from sharp fluctuations, is likely to produce a higher average return.

THE CITY MARKET* TOMATOES PLENTIFUL POTATOES RISE IN PRICE Smaller quantities of strawberries are now coming forward, values being fair for the quality offering at the City Markets yesterday. Supplies of outdoor tomatoes were heavy and prices fell. Plums were in poor demand, but there was a fair inquiry for apples. Hothouse grapes, oranges and apricots also met with a fair demand, llipe bananas were plentiful. Heavy supplies of beans sold at very low prices, while peas, which also were plentiful, maintained fair rates for quality lines. Potatoes were scarce and rose in price. Lettuce also firmed. New season's pumpkins were in good supply, quality lines reaching high prices The supply of poultry was medium and the demand fairly keen. Prices remained practically unchanged. Values are: — FRUIT Apples, cooking, Os to its a case; Slnrmer, Os to lis; tomatoes, outdoor, extra choice, firm, 2s Od to 3s; others. Is to 2s; hothouse, Is to Os Od; oranges, Australian, 10s to 21s; Californian, 30s; Jamaican, 21s to 22s Od; grapefruit. New Zealand, extra choice, 5s to 8s; lemons, choice cured, 14s to 17s; others, 5s to 10s; bananas, ripe, 8s to 225; plums, Hales, 2s to 3s; Burbank, 2s to 3s; Sultan, 3s to ss; others, dessert, 4s to 7s; apricots, Thames. 6s to 13s Od; strawberries, Captain Cook, extra choice. Is 2d to 3s Od a chip; others, lOd to 3s; Marguerite, extra choice, Od to 3s 2d; loganberries, 7(1 to Is Id; raspberries, 5s Od to 5s Od a tin; Cape gooseberries, 5d per lb.

FIELD PRODUCE Beet, Od lo Is fid a dozen: carrots. Is to 2s; cauliflowers, 5s to 8s a sack; cabbages, 2s to (is (id; on benches. Is to 2s a dozen; cucnmbers, 4d to Is; French beans, (id to Is fid a bag; stringless beans, Is to 2s 6d; green peas, 3s to 7s; kumaras. Island, 8s to 10s per cwt.; lettuce, 3s to 7s (id a 1 case; marrows, Is to 2s a dozen; melons, water, 2s to 3s fid each; onions, new season's, Is to os (id a bag; potatoes, No. 3, r>s to 8s; No. 2, 2s to 4s (id; pumpkins, new season's, Ited Warren, 12s to 17s per cwt.; loose, 2d to 2'4d iter lb; parsnips, Is 3d lo 2s a dozen; radish, (id to 0(1; rhubarb, Is fid to 2s (3d; spinach, Od to Is fid; spring onions, Od to Is fid a bundle; swedes, 3s to 4s 6d a bag; turnips, fid a dozen. POULTRY Cockerels, heavy breeds, prime, 3s (?d to ss; not prime, Is fid to 2s fid; light breeds, prime, 2s to 3s; not prime, Is fid to 2s; fat roosters, heavy breeds, prime, 2s fid lo 3s (id; light breeds. 2s up; fat hens, heavy breeds, 2s to Is; light breeds, Is (id to 2s 0(1; pullets, heavy breeds, best, 3s fid to 6s; smaller, 3s up; light breeds, best, 3s fid to 4s fid; smaller, 2s up; drakes, young, prime, 3s to 4s; smaller, 2s up; old, 2s to 3s; dunks, young, 2s to 2s 9d; old, 2s to 3s; geese, 4s to fis fid; turkey hens, 8s; gobblers, 12s to 18s; cockerel chicks, heavy breeds, fid to Is fid; light breeds, 3d to Is 3d. BUTTER AND EGGS Eggs, hen, A grade, Is (i'ad a dozen; B grade, Is .V/.jd; 0 grade, Is O'/ad; duck, A grade, Is 5 1 id; B grade, Is 4 1 / ad; C grade, Is 1 '/ad. Farmers' butter, lOd to Is per lb. CHILLED BEEF EXHIBITS SMITHFIELD MARKET RESULTS [from our owx cohrespoxdextJ HAMILTON, Tuesday Chilled boot' exhibited at the AYaikato Agricultural and Pastoral Association's summer show at Hamilton in October has reached Smithfield, and lias boon judged there on the hooks. The Sniithii.old results are:—Heifer, under three years; H. Windsor, 1; Whewell Bros., 2 and 0. Four steprs suitable for chilling; Te Awamutu group, 1; Cambridge, 2; Hoe-o-Taiuui. 3; To Ha pa, 4. Tlie placings in the first class were the same as those at the show, while in the second class To llapa was third at the show. QUOTATIONS FOR COPRA LONDON, Jan. 3 Quotations for copra for January to February delivery are as follows: South Sea, £l2 12s 6d a ton; smoked, £l2 10s; plantation, Rabaul, £l3 10s. STATISTICS OF TIN LONDON, Jan. 3 The statistical position of tin at the end of . December compared with that of previous months was:— Oct. Nov. Dec. Tons Tons Tons World 1 visible supplies . .. 18,421 18,007 10,014 Straits' carry-over . 2,322 3,676 4,388 Supplies received . 12,365 10,285 10,629 Deliveries . .. 12,354 10,030 9,082