NEW ZEALAND BUTTER.

Wairarapa Age, 27 February 1934, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND BUTTER.

SPREADING OF SHIPMENTS. MANY FACTORS. Criticuffii is heard occasionally regarding the shipment from Now Zealand of tremendous quantities of dairy produce in a single month, but this criticism is ill-informed, in that the factor of importance is not the ahiptaents from New Zealand but the arrivals in Etagland. As a matter of dpet, few people either inside or outside the dairy industry have any knowledge of the many complicating factors which enter into the successful -spreading of arrivals in England. A return recently placed (before, the Dairy ißoard showed the remarkable accuracy attained, and the even way in which arrivals are spread in England in comparison with the arrivals of competing countries, such as Australia. It has to be remembered that, whereas our principal competitor!-—Denmark ; —produces practically the year round, pur production is seasonal, with over 50 per cent, of our output being manufactured. in the four months, Octotber to January inclusive. Moreover, climatic conditions play a greater part in our total production than in Den ffiark, making it very difficult to forecast with any degree of accuracy our exportable surplus. The Danish market is at their door, only a few hours’ steaming for their vessels, while onrs is over 12,000 miles distant. Moreover, in Now Zealand vessels are respired to visit many different parts for loading, not at the request of the Dairy Board, but in order to serve all' other interests that assist to complete our mixed cargo of exports. Whilst New Zealand hiss to contend * with waterfront troubles; unfavourable weather conditions, roadstead ports, and vessels steaming many thousands of miles, our shipping programme must always be subject to disruption to some degree beyond control; When the freight contract was initiated recently! in London the foundation was laid for a weekly arrival of butter and cheese, but with over 100 vessels required each season to cater for our freight, it is impossible to expect all to adhere to s a stated date of arrival; Nevertheless the figures show that' despite these • many complicating fattens, this season’s actual arrivals will be very close to the estimates-prepared by the board prior to the commencement of the season, The actual position of shipments i and' arrivals is as follows:— Blitter (in boxes.) Estimated Actually „ toarrive. Arrived. . November 480,000 489,000 ! December 000,000 660,000 January -800,000 617,000 February 600,000 576,000 March 560,000 582,000 April 560,000 552,000 May 500,000 — ; June 400,000 — I , July 320,000 — ;Cheese (in crates). I'- Estimated Actually k „ , *° arr >ve. Arrived. , November 70,000 63/100 b December 140,000 112,000 January 156,000 160,000 February 156,900 4 . March — 154,000 155,000 I 1 xr Pn 150,000 154.000 •Tune 130,000 — •’“'y 90,000 — Those who criticise shipments from, blew Zealand <h> not realise that these shipments go on vessels with varving rates of speed and travelling by diffeent routes. The shipments have been, calculated on the basis of spread arrivals in England, and as the returns given above clearly show, these are very Close indeed to the quantities ache dated for arrival by the board. DISTRIBUTION IN ENGLAND. During recent months several men, who have returned from visits to England have criticised the matter of publicity given to New Zealand butter,* and have maintained that it is difficult to purchase New Zealand butter wider its own name except in the London asea. It has been the contention of the Dairy Board that suph criticism if many cases is ill-founded, and i« the result of observations made during a brief visit to England. That there is justification for the. board *s viewpoint is indicated <by a letter received recently from Mr.. Davidson,, formerly chief engineer of the New Zealand railways, who with his wife has spent the last twelve months thoroughly exploring the whole of England,. Wales and Scotland by car and caravan, and visiting every nook and corner of those countries. Writing recently to his brother, he indicates that they have found little difficulty in purchasing Zealand butter throughout the whole of Great Britain, and says: <4 We have 'been taking special note of New Zealand dairy produce, which is widely spread, throughout the country. It has ibeen very rarely the case that we could not purchase New Zealand butter, even in the remotest villages, which speaks very well of the distributive system. We see little difference in the Danish butter at 4d per lb more.” Observation of that type, coming from someone who has spent a considerable amount of time touring in England, and not made a hurried visit, surely indicates that so far as distribution at any rate is concerned it is on the right lines.