NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2106, 5 July 1894, Page 12

NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE NOTES.

(Fbom Our Own Correspondent,) London, May 25.

The fact that New Zealand mutton is being regularly sold for "best English" has just received a very practical demonstration at the hands of an ex-resident of that colony. Suspecting that % highly reputable firm in a large way of business "out West," under cloak of the policy of " No frozen meat at this establishment," were yet supplying New Zealand mutton at English prices, he determined to give the matter a thorough test. With this object a much larger proportion of mutton was included in the family order, until from ♦• prime joints enly " the whole round of the sheep had been ordered, supplied, cooked, and eaten. On occasions when the meat was treated as "best Eaglish" the fact of it having been through the refrigerator was abundantly apparent, but when it was carefully managed in the way frozen meat should be the place of origin could not even be guessed. To make still further comparison, and, moreover, to prevent the meat purveyors denying that they cold frozen meat, a few joints of New Zealand mutton were also ordered.

Then came the exposure. The month's bill of £4- 8s 3£d was carefully scanned ; an average of 3d per lb was deducted from the mutton that was not declared to be imported, and the firm were informed that, as they had been sending only New Zealand mutton and charging for it as English, the customer was prepared to resist payment in the interest of colonial producers. Either tbe prices must be reduced or the account would be contested in the County Court! The result was that the firm in question accepted £3 in full payment of the bill of £4- 8s 3£d, and quietly admitted that the proceeding complained of was much more general than the bulk of mutton consumers imagined. New Zealand bubter is menaced with a new and insidious form of attack. Some Dan : sh manufacturers of margarine are sending over their toothsome product to London in boxes carefully copif d from those in which New Zaland butter comes to market. It is true there is a margariue label, but this is not displayed with any offensive degree of ostentation, and it would be by no menus difficult to take in a not over-cartful buyfr. It; is feared that New Zealand butter b x-s will conseqaeutly ome to be looked on wito suvic'on, and oven the faintest touch o° doubt, d images auy article in the sensitive L'.-ikou markbt

Consequent the indtf a,- i gable Agtn'r-general for New Zealand has taken the matter up and made strong representations on the subject to the Board of Trade, urging that the inspectors should be instructed to keep a sharp look-out, ftnd drop on any margarine importations that are too colonially imitative, and to report how far the objectionable practice is being generally followed.

Sir Samuel Lowe, the New Zealand Govern- 1 ment dairy expert, is preparing, at the request of the Agent-general, a pictorial chart illustrating the various phases of the butter market during the past season, and t-howiug the different prices obtained for the respective classes 6f butter, European and colonial.

New Zealand cheese has just received a pat on the back from a uaott unexpected quarter — viz., the Standard, which 6ays it is quite equal to Canadian iv quality when not injured by carelessness in keeping it through the Voyage, and the bi'-fc is wor.h 60-> prr c*fc The ariivuls ot New Zealai d ciw.-st h.w firi'OUuted to 26,024 packages, as eomi>...r< tl wi'.h 18,354 fv.i '.iv c irrespouihi'g p^n >d ot ill': prec^dio^ year. t But New Zealand butter i<3 alrn>>s? unsaleable uuw, i-xcepb at iumous prices— 9oi to^2 for the best — and the season is nbsoluti-ly over. Hithdrto it has ended ia April, but delayed shipments have prolonged it — not with large profit to the producers.

I hear that the Doric's shipment of New Zealand cheese— some 70 tons — has all found a ready sale at good prices, mostly 57s to 60a. This is very satisfactory and promises well for the future.

Australians and Tasmanians are sending Home some excellent shipments of apples by each week's mail steamers, and those that have arrived in good order fetched 9s to 17s per case containing about 401b each. Some apples sent

with general cargo proved a failure. But no New Zealand apples at all seem as yet to have made their appearance this season. They ought to arrive by this time if any are coming, as when European fruit has to be competed with later in the Beason, the colonial product will stand a poor chance of returning remunerative prices. Glancing at the results of the past colonial butter season in London, it is impossible to avoid admitting the unpalatable fact that New Zealand butter as a rule does stand lower in the estimation of buyers than it did the year before. Of course some brands stand as high as ever, but as a rule this is not the case. There have been many complaints alike as to the quality of the New Zealand butter and as to the condition in which it has arrived.

. An occasional "fishy" or "tallowy" twang is alleged to have pervaded much of this season's butter. This is attributed to want of care as to temperature, &c, both in making and in conveyance fram factory to ship. It is believed that much of the defective quality is due to deterioration incurred on the way to shipment. Also mildew, through packing in boxes made of unseasoned or unsuitable wood, has been experienced.

Now I cannot of course say how far this suggested explanations of tbo falling off may be well founded, but I send them for the guidance of New Zealand producers. If these are the correct explanations of the shortcomings of their produce, let the faults be at once corrected. If not, then the true explanation must be ascertained at whatever cost or trouble if this important young industry is not to be a failure. As the Victorian butter has decidedly improved year by year, there then seems no valid reason why New Zealand butter should not do the same. New Zealand with her favourable climate ought to be able to beat Australia easily in dairy produce. Yet she is badly beaten by Victoria and only about " ties" with New South Wales. Evidently something ib wrong. "O, reform it altogether ! " That a much better price will be obtained next season if Mr Henry Reynolds succeeds in his effort to have the consignments sent only to a few well-established and responsible firms, who will hold for a fair price instead oi "cutting" the rates ruinously (for the producer) in competing with one another and trying to force early sales, seems very probable.

The Woodville Examiner declares that the Premier and Minister for Lands have proved political failures.

Ist of September 1894, and to extend to the 31stof May 1895.

4-. The mail steamers undertake to provide tonnage irrespective of quantity to the full available space of their cool chambers for all such shipments by their weekly mail steamers, or if the quantity available for shipment necessitates the employment of additional tonnage then by other steamers to be provided by the mail companies on receipt of two months' notice to enable them to provide the same.

5. The exporters will declare not later than 3 o'clock p.m. on the ninth day before the departure from Sydney of each mail steamer how much space they will require for butter, and at 3 o'clock p.m. on the fourteenth day for cheese. Should they fail to fill suck space, they will pay dead freight in respect of any short shipment, unless able to transfer to those shippers who are parties to this agreement.

6. In regard to cheese, it is agreed that the mail companies are not to be called upon to accept le3s than three tons weight in one steamer, and then only on condition that a certain quantity of the same produce is to be shipped from Victoria.

7. Should the applications from Sydney shippers aggregate a quantity of 20 tons cheese the mail companies to provide sufficient space for same, irrespective of Victoria shippers, upon receiving 14 days' notice. The mail companies to provide space for cheese throughout the year.

8. Freight to London be paid in exchange for bills of lading at the rate of seven-eighths of a penny per lb net for butter shipped in cases, and Id per lb for butter shipped in casks or kegs, and at the rate of |d per lb net for cheese.

9. All the butter to be shipped in strong packages, capable of standing the voyage ; tare not to exceed an average proportion of 13lb to a net averaged weight of 561b of butter, and the cubic measurement of a package not to exceed the average proportion of lft 6in to 561b net weight of butter. Cheese to be shipped in octagonal boxes of a tare not exceeding an average of 201b each, and containing an average of 1201b weight of cheese, and measuring not more than an average of 2ft Bin cube ; otherwise any excess of average tare or average cub.c measurement to be charged for proportionately to shippers. Shippers to ba allowed to send cases 1201b Jso 1301b on payment of net rate of freight fo~ cLe^se. Tares of cases not to exceed an average of 201b.

10. It is a condition of this agreement that the insulated space of the steamers of the mail