BUTTER AND CHEESE MARKETS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3384, 22 January 1919, Page 15

BUTTER AND CHEESE MARKETS.

KEEN DEMAND FOR FOOD PRODUCTS EXPECTED. Messrs Joseph Nathan and Co. report under date' January 13: " News from Australia would show that droughty conditions obtain there, and one of our correspondents states that if there is no improvement soon it is certain they will have to seek supplies from New Zealand. In view of the prohibition on export other than to the United Kingdom we presume that ua such circumstances the Australian Government would have to arrange with the Imperial authorities, through the New Zealand Government, to release to them a certain quantity of butter to meet their" requirements. " American advices show that the Canadian make of butter during the season jußt closed lies equalled nearly 100,000 . boxes . more thai* the previous year, but a good deal of this has been absorbed by export. In the United States there is a shortage, and prices are extremely high still, equalling at least 10 cents higher than in Canada, but export from Canada to the United States is not allowed. The value of first-grade creamery butter in Canada to-day is about 50 cents to 61 cents, end sometimes slightly over. " Cheese. —There are very big stocks now held in storage, but with the ■ flush of the season over it is hoped that good inroads will be made into the a-ccumulaitfon at an early date. . Although some good shipments have been going away it must be remembered that there was a. very big carry-over from last year, and very little new season's cheese hag yet been handled. The shipping position generally is said to be improving, but at the same time it must be borne in mind that there is a large accumulation of all classes of cargo in New Zealand, and it will be a very long time before the control of shipping is released and matters are on a nominal basis once more. " General. —In summarising advices received from abroad one is bound to feel that food products will be in big demand for a long while yet. Dealing more closely with dairy produce it should be remembered that there has been a great depletion of cattle throughout the world, and) it will take some time for these matters to adjust themselves. Con* sequently there should be a ready market for all our dairy products for a long while yet, under what one might hope will be reasonably favourable conditions."