PRODUCE MARKETS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3414, 20 August 1919, Page 12

PRODUCE MARKETS.

Messrs J. Kiathan and Co., Wellington, report under date August 11:—• Butter. From the point of view of the question of supplies, this winter will bo long remembered. There are few districts that ar© not feeling the pinch. Everything points to a late commencement of this season. At our Makino factory, where last year wo were making, at this period, about 120 boxes of butter per week, wo ar© not making 25 boxes to-day. This goes to prove that the shortage is just a question of natural conditions. Latest quotations in America for best creamery butter were 51| cents, as against 44 to 45 cents at the same period of last year. Very similar conditions also obtained in Canada, their make of butter being up to date just about the same as in th© previous season. Generally speaking, from figures before us, butter is in short supply throughout th© world. In connection with local matters wo hope that a-U concerned will endeavour to make sure that the petition to Parliament, in connection with equalisation and payment from the Consolidated Revenue, is ,©ry largely signed, so that this attempt to have a wrong righted will be successful. Weight of numbers will always tell.

Cheese. The news of the commandeering of tho Canadian output is, we think, evidence of the good work that has been undertaken by the Import Committee in London. We understand! iiva,t there are about 140,000 crates of cheese in the North Island and about 40,000 craites in the South Island, or in all, about 180,000 crates, for which freight allocations have not been made. Further allocations are being arranged now, and we think to-day that we are all to be congratulated upon for the manner in which our shipments have gone away, and the position from this point of view in regard to butter and cheese.