EXPORT OF BUTTER.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 November 1920, Page 8

EXPORT OF BUTTER.

THE DROP IN AMERICA. EFFECT OX WAIKATO FARMERS. IMPERIAL OIJFER ACCEPTED. The uncertain position of the butter market, owing to financial stringency and otiier causes, has placed both producers and buyers in a somewhat doubtful position. Only last week the SouthAuckland Dairy Association decided to break off negotiations with the Imperial Government oil Friday last, but a fall in prices in America and Canada during the week-end, coupled with the grave labour position at Home, has put a different complexion on tilings, and Mr. Goodfellow (general manager of the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company) told an Auckland Star reporter on Monday that his company had finally decided to accept the Imperial offer of 2s 6d net f.0.b., in view of a further assurance that the Board lias just received from the Imperial Government regarding equal marketing facilities with the producers of Great Britain and Ireland after March 31 next. A cable received on Saturday states: "Concerning a free market, the Government of New Zealand will appreciate that His Majesty's Government cannot give so far ahead the unqualified guarantee required. The Food Controller repeats the assurance given in preceding telegrams, and hopes to bo able to make at the end of January a definite announcement of a free market in butter in Great Britain about May or June, on the same term? for imported butter as for British and Irish. All New Zealand butter offered on Imperial Government terms will be accepted by the Ministry up to the end of December, but the Ministry will not guarantee acceptance .of deliveries after the end of December from any producers not formally accepting the Imperial Government's terms now for delivery up to the end of March." ... Apparently, said Mr. Goodfellow, the Food Controller was anxious to decontrol butter, hut it was very questionable whether the available supply of butter for Great Britain next year would show any marked improvement, and in such ' case the control would probably be continued. Taking everything into consideration, added Mr. Goodfellow, there was no doubt but that 23 fid net f.o.b. was a good price, and in view of the worldwide financial stringency and industrial unrest in England it was now highly desirable that the sale should he fixed lip without delay. Questioned with regard to the recent fall in American butter prices, the speaker said this was due to the importation of large quantities of Danish butter. The New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company was shipping 17,000 boxes, valued at £11!),000. by the s.s. Niagara, and the total sales made by New Zealand dairy companies to the United States of America and Canada amounted to 3.100 tons, with deliveries spread from September to February.