REDUCED EXPORTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23276, 20 February 1939, Page 5

REDUCED EXPORTS

BUTTER AND CHEESE

BAD SEASON REFLECTED AUSTRALIA'S GROWING MARKET The unfavourable dairying conditions experienced in most districts of the Dominion up to December are reflected in the serious fall in exports of butter and cheese shown in the January figures, which have just been released. Shipments of butter at 10,429 tons were 6086 tons lower than those of January, 1938, while the despatch of cheese showed a fall of 1535 tons to 6507 tons on the same basis of comparison. For the six months of the season to the end of January butter shipments from N'ew Zealand are down on last year's corresponding figure by 15,411 tons to 64,731 tons, a decline of 19 per cent. In cheese the fall over the same period amounts to 3495 tons at 38,057 tons, a loss of 8 per cent. Six Months' Shipments Exports of butter and cheese for tho first half of the past three seasons compare as follows: —

Although shipments show such a substantial drop for the first six months of the season, production lately has been recovering. Output, as represented by gradings for the same period, shows a decline of approximately 9 per cent on a butter-fat basis and there is hope with more favourable conditions ruling in most districts that further leeway will be made up in the closing months of the season. Export stocks held in New Zealand and loaded into steamers not sailed finally on February 1 totalled 30,000 tons, against 25,700 tons at the same date a year ago. Stocks afloat, however, were 7996 tons lower at 14,534 tons, so that the total New Zealand butter stocks in sight at February 1 were 44,534 tons, against 48,230 tons a year ago. Australia's Bid in Cheese A feature of the latest returns is the growth of Australian production. Although Australian butter exports were down 16 per cent in January to 8690 tons, her total for the six months was 19 per cent higher at 56,555 tons, as against 47,265 tons for the same period a year ago. In January Australia landed 13,579 tons of butter on the British market, against New Zealand's 11,783 tons, whereas in January, 1933, New Zealand landed 11,702 tons, against Australia's 9195 tons.

In cheese Australia's bid for the market has become even more marked. January shipments of Australian cheese at 2594 tons were 61 per cent higher than those of the same month a year ago, while for the season to date the Commonwealth has exported 10,988 tons of cheese to the "United Kingdom, against only 6523 tons for the same period of last season, an increase of 68 per cent. Arrivals of Australian cheese in London in January totalled 3046 tons, or nearly half of the quantity New Zealand landed, which was 7693 tons. In January, 1938, Australia landed 1670 tons of cheese to New Zealand's 6123 tons, while in January. 1937, the figure was only 945 tons compared with 9522 tons from New Zealand. While the Dominion's supply for that particular month over the last three years has dwindled by 1829 tons, Australia's supply has expanded by 2101 tons. EGG STANDARDS RAISED GRADING IN AUCKLAND INCREASE IN WEIGHTS An important move in the direction of standardisation has been taken by the Auckland Egg Marketing Committee, which has decided to improve the grading margins of hen eggs sold through the Auckland egg-grading floors. The existing Auckland grades, especially for B grade eggs, are considerably below those ot Wellington, and as a result Wellington B grade eggs could, and at times did. appear on the Auckland market as Auckland A grade. This margin has been narrowed by the Auckland grades being raised £oz. all round and by the elimination of eggs under lioz. These in future will be pulped and paid for at current pulp prices. • The result from the public's point of view is that graded eggs will now average approximately £op. more than did the corresponding grade previously, equivalent to almost an extra egg' (by weight) a dozen purchased. The strict elimination of dirty, bloodspotted. stale or cracked eggs will be maintained as rigorously as before, and the improved grading should result in more confident buying and increased consumption by the public. The revised weights will bo as follows: —First grade, 1 15-16oz. and over; B grade, 1 9-16oz. to 1 15-160z.; O grade, 1 4-16oz. to 1 9-16oz. Agents will commence to grade to these standards as from February 27.

WHOLESALE QUOTATIONS

VALUES REMAIN UNCHANGED

The Auckland Egg Marketing Committee announces that egg prices are unchanged. Hen: First grade, 2s lid a dozen; B grade, Is 10id; C grade. Is Buck: First grade, 2s OJd; B grade, Is ll$d; C grade. Is 4id. Country storekeepers' minimum buvmg prices for first grade eggs are:—Hen, Is 7Jd a'dozen; duck, Is 7d. NIKAU BACON LOSS RECORD TURNOVER OFFSET A loss of £IOBS is shown in the accounts of the Nikau Bacon Company, Limited, for the year ended December 31. This compares with a profit of £2730 in the previous year and £2006 in 1936. It is the first loss the company has ever incurred. No dividends are recommended. In 1937 8 per cent was distributed on both preference and ordinary shares, total capital amounting to £22.500. The directors point out that record figures for sales were obtained. A survey covering the Dominion disclosed that 1938 was the worst period the bacon industry has experienced for the past 15 years. The vicissitudes of the meat industry during the year had. through its widespread ramifications, a substantial influence on the bacon industry, while other conditions determined to a very marked . degree the inability of the trade to maintain generally satisfactory margins to meet constantly increasing production and labour costs. The directors add that the company's position is very sound, and they face the future with every confidence.

BUTTER i 1038-30 1037-38 •1936-37 Season (tons) (tons) (tons) August 10,089 10,738 0,087 September . 0,309 11,005 8,086 October 8,383 14,239 13,630 November . 13,570 0,490 12,020 December .. 12,951 18,105 17,808 January .. 10.429 15,515 17,,085 Totals .. 04,731 80,142 79,216 record of 140,003 tons established this season. CHEESE 1038-39 ] 037-38 1030-37 Season (tons) (tons) (tons) August 0,141 5,829 5,302 September . 6,001 6,712 4,281 October . 3,706 6,208 5,565 November . 7,120 4,8H4 0,580 December . 8,576 0,807 11,253 January 6.507 8,042 8,786 Totals 38,057 41,652 41,776