CANADIAN BUTTER

Otago Witness, Issue 4048, 13 October 1931, Page 15

CANADIAN BUTTER

ITS PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION TABLE OF COMPARATIVE STATISTICS. A table of statistics in connection with the production and consumption of butter in Canada has been forwarded to the secretary of the Department of Industries and Commerce (Mr G. W. Clinkard) by Mr J. \V. Collins, trade and tourist commissioner for New Zealand in Canada and the United States of America. In introducing the statistics, Mr Collins stated that the influence on the sales of Canadian milk and milk products to the United States by the increased duties imposed last year could now be gauged for a full twelve-monthly period. The following table gave a comparison of the exports to the United States of America in 1931 with those of 1930: — Twelve months ending June, 1931— Doi. Doi. Cream Milk—fresh. Gallons. Gallons. 720,607 1,348,805 1,025,560 195,329 1930— 2,016,442 4,074,437 2,656,832 604,745 The increased production of butter in Canada during the last 12 months has been followed by a considerable increase in sales overseas, particularly to the United Kingdom. The following statement compares the position:— 12 months ending J une > lbs. Doi. 1931 .. .. 3,146,000 801,198 1930 .. .. 1,219,700 494,935 There has not been the same appreciable change in the value and quantity of exports of condensed milk and milk powder tor the same period:— Twelve months ending June, 1931— Milk—Condensed. Milk Powder, lbs. Doi. lbs. Doi. 10,955,300 1,262,046 5,532,100 641 996 1930— ’ - 15,029,000 1,701,172 4,788,800 560,289 The expert of evaporated milk shows little change as to quantity, but the value for 1931 indicated a 25 per cent decline—viz.: 12 months ending Milk Evaporated. June, lbs. Doi. •’ ” 8,480,200 891,421 1930 .. .. 8,882,300 1,008,064 Milk, Evaporoted. The overseas sales of casein showed a considerable decline both in quality and xalue indicating, as I have previously reported, the serious state of the world’s markets:— 12 months Casein. ending J une > lbs. Doi 1931 .. .. 43,690 3,721 1930 •• •• 197,073 21,081 In regard to butter importations for the period, the decline was most marked, as the following statement indicates:— 12 months Butter. ending Ju»e, lbs. Doi. 1931 .. .. 8,708,916 2,450,571 1930 .. .. 44,859,060 15,038,294 In submitting these totals regard should be paid to the fact that a considerable quantity of the butter imported from August, 1930 (when the change in the Canadian duty became effective), was carried over to the next period. The final report of the Dominion Bureau of Statistics showed Canadian creamery butter production during 1929 to have been 1/0,810,2301b, and production of dairy butter during the same year was estimated at 90,000,0001 b, a total of 260,810,2301 b. Calculations based on storage stocks at the beginning and end of each month of the year, exports and imports during each month, and a uniform monthly consumption of 24,619,5031 b indi cates total monthly production and the percentage of the total production which was produced each month as shown below:—

It is interesting to note that in only four months of the year, viz., June, July, August, and September, did production exceed the monthly consumption requirement of 24,619,5031 b. PRELIMINARY REPORT OF CANADIAN CREAMERY BUTTER PRODUCTION DURING T 930. The preliminary report of Canadian creamery butter production during 1930 hag been received from the Dominion Bureau of Statistics. The production by provinces during 1930 and 1929, together with percentages of increase or decrease, I is shown hereunder;— 1

The predominate position of butter Production in the provinces of Quebec and Ontario is demonstrated by the totals; each province actually makes more butter than the rest of the provinces combined. • le estimated consumption of butter in Canada 1927-1930, is as follows: — 1927. 1928 On hand Jan.l,lb 14,548.427 21,609,123 1 reduction—

Total consumption, lb 293,434,036 301,095,674 Estimated population .. .. .. 9,796,800 9,934,500 Consumption per capita, lb .. 29.95 30.31 * Preliminary figures. This statement is of particular interest and shows conclusively that Canada was dependent to a considerable extent upon outside sources of supply during the years 1929 and 1930, and leads me to conclude that, despite the increased production in 1931, overseas butter will be needed during the approaching winter. The importations, however, may be influenced by several factors, chiefly upon the market for grain and the lessened buying power of the people. If grain prices show strength then it will not be available for the feeding of cattle during the winter as was the case last year, and the production of milk must inevitably fall. The buying power should not be less than last winter, for the reason tha't steps are being taken throughout Canada to relieve unemployment during the approaching iv inter, the Federal Government having undertaken, with the aid of the provinces and the municipalities, to provide work for all suitable applicants. The quantities being exported during the present season and the rapid deterioration of domestic butter under cold storage may lead to a demand setting in in January of 1932. During the Canadian summer of this year the wholesale and retail price of butter has been extremely low, ranging from 20 cents to 22 cents wholesale (10d to lid per lb). Invariably the price received for New Zealand butter in the markets of the United Kingdom has been at least four cents per lb higher thus demonstrating that it would have’ been impossible to find a market for our buttter in Canada, irrespective of tariff The return for butter-fat to the dairy farmers of Canada must have proved exceedingly disappointing and unremunerative, especially to the producers in the prairie provinces who have to pay high freight rates to the markets of the east and west.

Per cent, of total Month. Month’s Production, lbs. produced each month. January .. .. 14,380,805 5.5 February .. 15,260,584 5.8 March .. 16,563,360 6.3 April .. . . .. 20,730,423 7.9 May .. .. .. 22,658,096 8.7 June .. .. .. 32,576,749 12.5 July .. .. .. 34,389,209 13.2 August .. 29,468,485 11.3 September .. 25,467,049 9.8 October .. .. 19,511,588 7.5 November .. 15,806,038 6.1 December .. 13,997,844 5.4 Total . • 260,810,230

Butter. Province. 1929. lb. 1930. lb. p.c. p.c. Inc. Dec. Prince Edward Island Nova 1,883,292 1,746,099 7.3 Scotia N. Bruns4,289,930 4,733,579 10.3 wick 1,860,173 2,059,675 10.7 Quebec 53,489,879 62,146,851 16.1 Ontario Mani59,346,844 64,898,291 9.3 toba Saskat15,472,109 15.786,896 2.0 chewan 14,786,205 13.920,561 5.9 Alberta 16,004,463 17,716,744 10.6 Brit. Colunibia 3,677,335 4,142,551 12.6 Total 170,810,230 187,151,247 9.5

Creamery, lb 176.978,947 168,027.039 Home-made, lb 95.000,000 90,000,000 Imports, lb 11,208,819 16,801,656 297,736.193 296,437,818 Exports, lb 2,696,000 1,994,800 295,040,193 294,443,018 On hand Dec. 31,IL 21,609,123 13,785,942 Total consumption lb 273,431,070 280,657,076 Estimated population 9,519,000 9,658,000 Consumption per capita, lb 28.72 29.06 1929. 1930. On hand, Jan. 1, lb 13,785,942 13,689,985 Production.. Creamery, lb .. 170,810.230 187,151.247 Home-made, lb 88,000.000 85,000,000 Imports, lb 35,928,249 38,606,055 308,524,421 324,447,287 Exports, lb 1,400,400 1,180,240 307,124,021 323.266,887 On hand Dec. 31 13,689,985 22,171,213