NEW ZEALAND BUTTER AND CHEESE IN THE HOME MARKET.

Otago Witness, Issue 1911, 6 July 1888, Page 18

NEW ZEALAND BUTTER AND CHEESE IN THE HOME MARKET.

Mr W. Elder, Port Chalmers, has courteously placed the following letter at our disposal. In doing so Mr Elder writes :— " Messrs Campbell, Shearer, and Co. devote their whole attention to the foreign and colonial produce business, dealing directly with the dealers in these articles, and are thus in a position to give sound information on the subject. Should any of your readers wish further information on this matter I would be happy to hear from them, or by applying direct to Messrs Campbell, Shearer, and Co. and using my name I can assure them of a courteous reply." 4 iiaatcheap, London, 8.C., May 4, 1888. W. Elder, Esq., Port Chalmers. UDear Sir, — In reply to your inquiries about the cheese and butter trade, we shall always have great pleasure in furnishing you with the best information in our power. In the first place «c have to congratulate your colony upon the prospects of their dairy produce trade. From what we have seen and handled of New Zealand produce we believe there is a future before the producers such as they have not yet realised. Thby have made mistakes undoubtedly; but although goods, particularly butteu, arrive here in many ensea in a seriously damaged state, yet we can see that tho quality of nearly all the butter has originally heen fine. In most cases depreciation of quality has arisen from the character of the package, and from the heat to which it has been subjected. The experience we have had enables us to point out to shippers what is absolutely neceesary in order to put the trade upon a satisfactory footing. So far as butter is concerned, France supplies a very large proportion of what is consumed in London, and after France comes Denmark. One of the great secrets of the success of French butter on thi* market is the uniformity of quality, so that n purchaser by examining one package can see *ith almost perfect certainty the quality of the whole parcel he is buying. The same pretty much applies to the better brands of Danish butter.

The next point is to ensure that the butter should arrive here in as good condition as it leaves the producer's hands. This can only be done by its being carried as quickly as possible from the creamery to the refrigerator on board the steamer. Ono, however, of the most important points of all is the character of the paokage in which the butter is carried. It does not matter very much whethpr the paokage is an ordinary firkin or a square box, although the former is preferred here, but in any rase the inside of the package ought to be so treated as to pi event the wood doing any injury to the butter. We have seen some boxes lined with a sort of enamel which seemed to have a very good effect in pi eventing the butter taking any unpleasant flavour from contact with the wood. Attention to the following three points ' (Ist) To the quality before shipment, (2nd) Immediate conveyance to the refrigerator without exposure to heat, (3rd) The character of the package (tins are decidedly objectionable), will ensure success.

The cheese trade if wisely carried on will be an immense source of profit to the farmers of the colonies. The high prices we have made for New Zealand cheese this year speak for the quality, as they hive had to compete with American supplies on this market, and the American makers have the advantage of many years' experience. The farmers must use the utmost care In endeavouring to bring bhe quality to the highest perfection possible, otherwise they may rely upon it that the Americans who have practically no other market but England for their cheese will be sure to cut them out. We have no hesitation, however, in saying that with cure iv the manufacture, New Zealand will take a highjplace in the market.

We may also mention that cheese weighing about 501b each are preferred here to smaller sizes. The demand is always greater for coloured than for whito cheese, and we should therefore advise that shipments should be made in the proportion of twothirds coloured and one-third white.

It may be well for us to warn your shippers that the high prices we have made this year must not be implicitly counted upon in the future, because of the ouormous and increasing extent of the American and Canadian supply.— We are, Ac, Campbell, Shearer, and Go.