OUR PRIMARY PRODUCTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3886, 4 September 1928, Page 12

OUR PRIMARY PRODUCTS.

Considering that the welfare of the people who live in New Zealand depends in great measure upon the demand experienced for our exportable primary products and the volume of same it is tempting to endeavour to visualise the likely trend of future values. It is essential, however, that we should be neither too optimistic in our views nor adopt the cult of pessimism. The past season finished with prices for all our exportable products of a -perishable nature on a satisfactory level, and it is surmised that producers will shape their operations in the coming year so that* maximum gains will result from wool, meat, and dairy produce. Last season’s wool figures were outstanding. In the continuous period of 30 years in which wool statistics have been compiled by Messrs Dalgety and Co., Ltd., and analysed in the firm’s Annual Review, there has never been a season which has yielded such a handsome wool cheque as the present, and the totals of £60,873,662 for the Commonwealth, and £73,877,862 for Australasia create fresh records, states this year’s Review? Sheep have come through the winter well in Otago, and hogget and ewe wool should be well grown and sound, while as for prices no one has yet ventured to say that wool is in .over-supplv, and the opening gales in Australia are full of promise. The demand for our meat is insistent, the final prices paid for the Dominion’s lamb and mutton being more than satisfactory, and in marked contrast to values ruling at this time last year. The lamb-buying season for export practically ceased at around ll|d per lb in Otago-Southland for quality lambs carrying good skins, compared with under 9d per lb in 1927, or, say, 8s per head better than last year, and at the moment our lambs are going into consumption freely. Wethers, however, are no better than a year ago, but ewe mutton has moved off well enough. As for beef there never was in normal times such a dearth of prime bullocks at this season, and in consequence values have ruled high in all fat stock markets in New Zealand, being £4 and £5 per head dearer than at this period a year ago. It is probable that the local demand will suffice to check the export of bullocks, for some considerable time. The pork industry invites attention if only from the fact during the 12 months ended June 30, 1928, we have killed for export 118,556 porkers arid 27,485 baconers, as against 50,802- porkers and “'35,424 baconers during -the previous year, the swing over from baconers to porkers being noticeable. There is still' tremendous leeway to be made up before pro'ducers in New Zealand can be deemed to be providing a tithe of the pork products English consumers demand. When each province realises the present opportunities of meeting the Empire’s demand for pigs are neglected we may expect good progress in the industry, but unfortunately little encouragement is given, and in the meantime other countries are exploiting Home consumers. As with lamb so it has been with Butter and cheese, with the result that the past season’s returns have been most gratifying. Both the volume and value of our dairy produce has been encouraging. Best of all we open the present season on a high note, our cheese and butter having been sold forward at up to 9Jd per lb, f.0.b., to the end of December, and to Is 5Jd per lb, f.0.b., for six months ahead respectively. . As an indication of the confidence in the coming season’s make of cheese and butter we have only to note the readiness of big buyers to buy heavy outputs, well forward. The outlook in the dairy industry is decidedly bright. What matters it if Canada and Australia close their doors to our produce? The economic conditions of other countries apparently are such that ' our produce is welcomed.

Germany has developed a taste for butter, and is taking large quantities of Danish production, and supplies from Siberia, Latvia, and Poland. The result is that less butter is imported from the above-mentioned sources into Britain, and the New Zealand product more than suffices. So,' too, with cheese, although here we appear to be on even a better wicket. The United Kingdom practically depends upon Canada and New Zealand for her Cheddar cheese. The former country is sending milk and cream to the United States, and so lessens her make of cheese to her rival’s (New Zealand) advantage. It appears we can bank on our butter and cheese. According to an oversea visitor well acquainted with the ramifications of the dairy produce here and abroad- New Zealand would double its production in the next 12 or 15 years, and it would all be wanted by the consuming countries of the world. Home buyers are in the mood apparently to promote the “ buy within the Empire ” feeling. Assuredly producers will not deny them, but endeavour, while increasing the volume of their output, to maintain or, rather, improve the quality of their exportable products. Knowing that we can produce the finest foodstuffs of their kind in the world it would be a pity not to take advantage of the position and effect mutual benefits.