OUR BUTTER TRADE

Waikato Argus, Volume XXXV, Issue 5507, 13 January 1914, Page 2

OUR BUTTER TRADE

AMERICA AS A MARKET. Waikato probably does not possess a more energetic or keener business man than Mr William Goodfellow, the managing director of the Waikato Co-operative Dairy Company, which has, in spite of active opposition, and in the face of much prejudice, forced the home-separation question right to the forefront, and, from comparatively small beginnings, built up a connection which speaks volumes for his perseverance and enterprise. When, therefore, Mr Goodfellow talks butter his opinion should be worthy of respect. In the course of a short conversation with a representative of this paper last evening, Mr Goodfellow .stated that he was leaving at the end of this week on a three or four months' trip to Canada and the NorthWest States of America, the object in view being to foster the trade in New Zealand butter with those places, and by obtaining information first hand, getting into closer touch with the requirements of the trade, and the elimination of all unnecessary handling and expense of marketing, to place the produce before the actual consumers at the minimum of cost, thereby directly benefiting the company's suppliers by securing to them the maximum return for their butter-fat.

In reply to a query as to the present dimensions of the American trade, Mr Goodfellow stated that the heaviest monthly shipment his company had so far sent to Vancouver was valued at £IO,OOO, while other shipments had ranged between £7OOO and £IO,OOO, the lowest being the last, which only reached £SOOO. This was attributable to the fact that better prices were now ruling in London, and the company had taken advantage of that market. He had great hopes for the American trade, and firmly believed that America was destined to become the market of the future.

Asked whether a vast country like America could not produce enough butter to meet her own needs, Mr Goodfellow considered that the price now ruling there for butter--about 2s (id per lb—tended to prove that it couk not, and he was fully satisfied that the demand for outside produce would continue to grow. As an exporter, he was gratified at the opening up of the American outlet; it had occurred at a most opportune time, for the outlook in the English market had not been very assuring by reason of the competition )f margarine, combined with the machinations of the monopolists, trices in London were not ruled by the law of supply and demand, but appeared to be "worked" by a trust who bought up supplies at the lowest possible figure and retailed at the highest. By offering an alternative market, the American trade would enable the exporters in Australasia to circumvent these manipulators, by diverting shipments to those places where the best prices ruled, and thus directly conserve the interests of the individual suppliers. He was fullv convinced that America woujd soon become Australasia's most consistent customer for all staple products. With the opening of the Panama Canal they would be able to get into touch with the teeming population on the East Coast—an impossibility at present owing to the difficulty of reaching the ports; but under ruling conditions his company had received inquiries for business as far afield as Chicago. He was satisfied that the trade would assume immense dimensions before very long, and that New Zealand was on a good wicket through being in a position to take the best advantage of both the European and American markets.

Home-separation versus creamery methods where then touched upon, and after wishing Mr Goodfellow bon voyage, a successful mission and a safe return, with an entire immunity from earthquakes—on his last American trip Mr Goodfellow encountered the famous 'Frisco "shake"—the conversation ended.