WHAT OF CHEESE?

Stratford Evening Post, Volume I, Issue 79, 12 March 1931, Page 4

WHAT OF CHEESE?

CONSUMPTION IMPROVES HIGH PRICES EXPECTED SMALL CANADIAN SALES CHEESE VESUS BUTTER While there has been a good deal of information regarding butter prospects of late, little has been heard of cheese, but from information, given to the “Post" to-day, it would aappear that there is every reason to expect an improvement in the course of a month or so. This Dominion exports some 80.000 to 90,000 tons of cheese per annum, which is expected to clear at the rate of about 10,000 tons each month. According to the Control Board figures sales of New Zealand cheese since the coaimencement of this year has been approximately 2.000 tons weekly. On January 10 New Zealand cheese stocks in the United Kingdom totalled about 66,000 crates, rising to £89,500 crates on January 17 and dropping to 85,000 crates on January 24 and 77,000 on January 31. On February 7 stocks increased to 82,500 crates; February 14, to 96,000 crates, and on February 21 up to 107,000 crates, which, however, only represents 7000 tons, equivalent to three and a-half weeks' supply at the present rate of sales, and arrivals should soon to taper off. New Zealand is the only important cheese factor on the market to-day. Canada had in stock in England about 101,000 crates on January 10, but their sales were only 7,250 crates, or 500 tons a week. On January 19 Canadian was down to 95,000 crates and sales 400 tons; January 24, to 92.000 crates and sales 200 tons, while the premium for Canadian cheese all this time was about £1 a cwt.

On January 31 Canadian stocks were 89,000 crates and sales 230 tons, February 7, to 83,000 crates and sales just over 100 tons; February 21, to . 81,000 tons spd sales 130 tons; and February 28, to 80,000 crates and sales just over 100 tons. , < ',.f - Reviewing the position it' appears " that while New Zealand cheese is clearing at the rate of some 2,000 ’ tons weekly, Canadian sales range up to 200 tons only, and many mert chants, handling our cheese, have bought Canadian cheese and are selling it in competition with the New Zealand product, and demanding about £1 a cwt. premium. It is considered that New Zealand is in a very favourable position as regards cheese stocks,’ and statistics would point to Canadian cheese being rationed on t& the market by the merchants. After March our shipments will gradually diminish, and should our sales continue at the present rate —and there is every indication they will go higher—our cheese should, about June or July, be in a position to demand a much higher price, , A further indication ot the confidence that exists in the cheese market is shown by the fact that offers for butter are available only from month to month, whereas cheese can be sold to the end of the season for 6d. There is little foundation for the statement that cheap meat at Home is affecting cheese sales, and this is contrary to the Control Board fig* ures.New Zealand cheese sales are slightly higher during last month than those for the corresponding month last year, and very much higher than for February ‘of 1929.