The Opunake Times. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1905. BUTTER BUYING.

Opunake Times, Volume XXII, Issue 772, 12 September 1905, Page 2

The Opunake Times. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1905. BUTTER BUYING.

Mb D. Bray, late of the Government Dairy Department, who has been on a trip to Great Britain, and has returned to represent in New Zealand a large London firm of produce importers, gave to a “ Wellington Post ’’ reporter bis impressions of the outlets at Home for our dairy produce. The quality of New Zealand butter is such that he found people very eager to secure it, and the demand is likely to be an ever increasing one ; but he is alleged to have stated, “ there are obstacles, and the chief of them is that business with New Zealand cannot be done on a basis as satisfactory to Home firms as it is with other places. Many of the firms, which purchase direct in Canada at the weekly sales, and have the drafts presented for payment in London, would be willing to extend their operations to New Zealand if the business could be done on similar lines; but the great objection is the neccessity for buying New Zealand factory outputs for five or six months. Mr Bray thinks a system of regular sales at short intervals could be introduced, which would enable firms to feel safer in entering the New Zealand business, and increased competition, and possibly a better return to the producer would result. Some firms give preference to Australian butter, not only because they can make purchases for a shorter period, but because the lower freights offered this year act as an inducement in some of the provincial markets. While many firms are willing to discuss direct trading with New Zealand they prefer in the meantime to go on procuring most of their requirements in the British markets, rather than take the risk of buying ahead in New Zealand.” If Mr Bray is correctly reported (says the Stratford Post) his remarks in some respects are to say, the least, surprising. ’ Instead of the “ necessity for buying New Zealand factory outputs for five or six months," that he complains of, we have the representatives of all the leading English firms falling over each other to buy the outputs for not one only, but two or even three seasons ahead. This week on one day there were eighteen butter buyers in Stratford, every one representing a reliable firm. The only anxiety amongst them appeared to be that the factories, considering the prospects of tbe trade, do not appear too eager to sell. The demand for New Zealand butter is certainly likely to be an ever-increasing one in London, and there is no dearth of firms willing to to take the trade risk of buying ahead. The factories further, have always the option of consigning with recourse, and this year that option is being largely used.