NEW ZEALAND BUTTER

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1887, 13 April 1892, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND BUTTER

During his recent visit to Great Britain, Mr Duthie, M.H.R., made careful investigation as to the prospects of the market for New Zealand batter in the Old Country He was convinced, as the result of his inquiries, that there is in Great Britain a ! splendid opening for the development and I expansion of this trade. New Zealand factory-made butter has already achieved a capital reputation for itself, and commands high prices. During four months of the year — namely, December, January, Feb- j ruary, and March — New Zealand has no competitor worth mentioning, for those months include the season of extreme cold in the countries from which most of the foreign butter sold in England comes. The demand for good butter is bo large that all New Zealand could supply for at least a third of the year would be readily bought at prices which would very handsomely reward the producer. Mr Duthie thinks that the butter trade of New Zealand will, if properly managed, eventually equal, if not surpass, that of some of the articles which are now regarded as the leading staples. About six months ago, Mr Buchanan, M.H.R., a practioal farmer of wide experience, who had recently made a trip through Great Britain and the United States, expressed a similar opinion to a member of our staff, and we then urged that every possible encouragement should be given by the Government to the dairy industry, because its prosecution on a large scale would furnish employment to a much greater number of people than the raising of beef, mutton, and wool. We also pointed out that Professor Long, of the Cirencester Agricultural College, one of the highest living authorities, bad in his report to the New Zealand Government shown that for daiiying purposes this colony was superior to any country on the face of the globe, and we urged the Government to adopt the Victorian system of giving bonuses for butter, and having a Government system of branding before export established. We are glad to learn that though the Minister of Agriculture then looked upon the suggestion of Government interference in matters of the kind as indefensible, the Ministry have now made up their minds to adopt a scheme such as we advocated. — • Press.'