BOTTOM REACHED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17180, 10 February 1930, Page 5

BOTTOM REACHED

HOME BUTTER TRADE BETTER DEMAND LIKELY (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Tress Assn.) (Received February 10, 11 a.m.) LONDON, Feb. 9. The butter trade remains disappointing. There is an entire absence of speculative buying, retailers being content to take only suilieieut for immediate requirements. This is not surprising in view of the liberal stocks here and the quantity afloat, but as the present prices of Australian and New Zealand are nearly 30s per cut. below those ruling a year ago some importers are hopelul that the bottom has been readied. One cause of these low prices has been the mild weather through all the winter months, with the wannest January on record. Now, however, we are experiencing a cold spell, and tho demand ought to improve. Dissatisfaction has been expressed with the quality of some recent arrivals of Australian butter. One importer who purchased an unsalted consignment of a certain Australian brand on c.i.f. terms rejected a parcel on tho grounds that it was of inferior flavor. Other importers also say their consignments from Australia this year have been far from satisfactory, chiefly on account of the flavor, but they also complain of excessive moisture. There have also said to have been numerous instances of short weight. It is usual to hear complaints like this when the market is dull, but there seems full justification for them in the present instance. The Empire Marketing Board will in future publish fortnightly the stocks of butter in cold storage.