STRATFORD.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 13928, 6 April 1909, Page 8

STRATFORD.

(From Our Resident Agent.) April o. — A meeting of dairy factory representatives, convened by tlie National Dairy Association, was hi Id al the Borough Chambers to-day to consider tke position of the butter market and the best course- to adopt with ;uitmmi supplies. The 'President (Mr. J. W. Foreman) pointed out that the position was one calling for the exercise of care. In spite of the increase oi cheosemaking, the production of butter in Taranaki was fully as great as last year. .Most of the contracts with' buyers and agents expired on March 'M . and the advice from London was that the market was very depressed. The question was how far they could look to local markets to help them out with the autumn make. After much discussion it was decided to recommend factori<s to ship Home the bulk of their -April butter and not to sell for storage in New Zealand. ' In the course of the meeting the representatives of Messrs J. Nathan and Co, and J. and J. Lonsdale and Co. were ask^d to give their views. They, however, confined themselves to expressing the opinion that the present slump and the unsatisfactory position our butter had occupied during the whole season was due to the increase of moisture, which acted bpth in keeping off the buyers for blending and in making the butter less acceptable to the retailer on account of its impaired keeping qualities.