AUCKLAND BUTTER SUPPLY.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 4538, 29 November 1889, Page 4

AUCKLAND BUTTER SUPPLY.

The AnckUod Star stya : - The locil batter market appears to be in a very unsatisfactory state at the preient time. Supply exceeds the demand very largely, and as a natural consequence prices are ruling exceptionally low. The result la dissatisfaction on every side—the farmer for his p-.r; failing to obtain anything like an adequate return, the grocar suffering equally with the firmer in the prevailing low prices, and the commission agent standing badly with his country customers because of the difficnlty he experiences in disposirg of good daiii-ia at anything like the prevailing ra'ep. Sydney market is said to b8 weil supplied, and the Vic' tnrian is practically closed, so that it is difficult to dispose of our own snrplns. It might be sent Horns to a grod English market if it wero not that the space m the cooling chambers r;f tfco direct steamers is oil engaged till the earlier pirt r.f the year, when the season will be practically over. No other remedy, therefore, appears to exist beyond the salting-down process. Much of the batser now coming into the market is being put down in salt to preserve it, a-,d it is pointed out tc us that if j the farmers sent into town only nne-balf the present supply, end salted the balance themselves, the glut would be removed, present prices would recover their tone, and the preserved butter would bring a higher price ia the Ecarca seascn than is now paid for choice dairies. Caro in proEerving makes a wonderful difference in the sale price. If, instead of putting down in kegs, farmers were to make np the bntter in pats and preserve in clear pickle, it would command a price very little bolow that of fresh butter a few months hence. The whole question ia one of Jstrong difficulty, and the knotty problem of the disposal of the surplus is at present engaging the deepest attention of tbo trade.