NEW ZEALAND’S BUTTER

Taranaki Daily News, 28 December 1929, Page 15

NEW ZEALAND’S BUTTER

MARKETING IN ENGLAND.

SIR JAMES PARR’S EFFORTS.

London, Nov. 21.

In the Grocer of last week “Butter Handler” asked Sir James Parr certain questions arising out of his recent public statements at Manchester.

An answer to this letter signed by the “High Commissioner appears in the current number of the Grocer. He says: “My reply to your correspondent. ’Butter Handler',’ is that I did not eay in my address at the Manchester Chamber of Commerce on October' 31 last, that New Zealand butter could be bought 2d or 3d a lb. cheaper than that ‘from any other country.’ That statement would be absurd. What I said was that in New Zealand butter Manchester people could buy an article which was pronounced by British medical analysts to be the very best, and yet they would sometimes pay 2d or 3d a lb. more for foreign butter. This statement, I would point out, went entirely unchallenged by the importers and merchants who listened to me, though they asked me many other things. "In reply to a further question by the same correspondent, I state that it is a fact that Great Britain takes practically'all the New Zealand butter and cheese. In my address I made tliis abundantly clear. What I pointed out was that, unfortunately, Manchester and the surrounding district, unlike other parts of Britain, were only very small purchasers of our butter, and I argued that as New Zealand bought so liberally of Manchester manufacturers I hod an excellent case to present in asking Manchester people to buy more from ue.

“We have a progressive increase in output each year, and I asked Manchester people to help us—their own kith and kin overseas—to extend our present markets, in order that tliis increase should be absorbed. I can further assure your correspondent that it is not true that the British market is bare of New Zealand honey. As a matter of fact New Zealand supplies Britain with' about one-third of her total honey importations, and I think I stressed this excellent achievement in the course of my address.” A QUESTION OF CASKS. The original letter in the Grocer has invited further opinions. A correspondent signing himself “F.G.1.” says:— "We may take it for granted that we get all the butter New Zealand can send us. I notice iu the Grocer that for the week ended November 9 145,000 boxes of butter arrived in London. I note also Danish butter is reduced 10 kroner. In the retail price list of a leading London store Danish butter is priced 2s 2d and fancy New Zealand 2s per lb. Taking the London butter market report in the Grocer of November 9, Danish butter is quoted 186 s to 190 s per cwt. In the Manchester market report of Tuesday, November 5, Danish is quoted at 194 s to 197 s per cwt, with contract dairies extra. On the London market New Zealand butter is quoted 170 s to 176 s per cwt., which, against Danish of the same day, is 14s to 16s per cwt. cheaper to buy. “I read Sir James Parr’s speech at the Manchester Chamber of Commerce, and the impression in my mind was that :he would like to see New Zealand butter more prominently brought to the notice of the consuming public. At the close of the New Zealand butter season, 1929, Danish and New Zealand butter was being retailed at the same price, Is 8d per lb. —proof, indeed, of the high standard of quality. The fact is that the consumer is so used to seeing butter in a cask that this is to the disadvantage of New Zealand. If we can get it in casks it will command the top price on the butter market. That is my opinion.” Still another correspondent signing himself “Butter Consumer,” replies to “Butter Handler.” “Sir James Parr’s speech at Manchester,” he says, “was a typically courageous effort to remind the British public of the fact that they should never overlook, namely, that New Zealand produce is British produce.” The writer suggests that “it is absurd for ‘Butter Handler’ to suggest that the quality is at fault. For years now expert judges have agreed that, with modern refrigeration, butter from New Zealand will open up just as fresh as the Continental butter.” TABULATION OF FACTS. Facts concerning the production of New Zealand butter, are then tabulated to show that “it is not surprising that consumers find it a higher quality butter than any other arriving on the English market.” Other reasons why we should all demand New Zealand butter before buying from foreigners are given as follows: — (1) No other country in the world can approach New Zealand for the amount per capita annually expended on British goods; (2) no other people are exhorted by their public and business men to “Buy British Goods” as are New Zealanders. (3) No other country builds up such a terrific tariff wall against foreign goods to protect the British manufacturer.