The Waikato Independent TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 1931. DAIRY PRODUCE MARKETS.

Waikato Independent, Volume XXX, Issue 2433, 6 January 1931, Page 4

The Waikato Independent TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 1931. DAIRY PRODUCE MARKETS.

Apart from the actual presence of the festive season, farmers of the Canv bridge district had more -cause to be cheerful and optimistic than they have had for many months past, for the cables from Loudon on the eve of Christmas disclosed a much brighter tone in the dairy produce markets. A rise of (i/- to take the values up to 120/- for butter was a christmas box that was really appreciated. This fact.qr, coupled with the fine spell of lias favoured harvesting ojKjratibns caused farmers to wear a broader siniic during the holiday period; While the rise in values does not really approach the high level of a few seasons ago, still, we believe it is soundly based, for itTs known that the row season's make of Dominion produce was- going into immediate consumption. Another encouraging feature, just before Christ' mas, was the willingness of buyer? to operate on «an f.o.b. basis. Farmers will not forget that only a fey weeks ago buyers had no offers at all to make. The mater that concerns factory directors at the present time is whether they should continue to sell or consign and take their chance of a continued hardening of the market. It is not easy to determine what course should no pussued. The market experiences of the L jast few seasons have disclosed that values have a tendency to fall after Christmas. Last season the price fell almost continuously, though slowly, from the third week in November, when it reached 174/-, until at'the beginning of March it was down to 142/The circumstances are different this season, for prices foil to an extraordinarily low level before Christmas, and for a short period perhaps, they may go upwards. We remember, of course, that at present, and during the next, aw weeks, heavy supplies of Austral- : .ail and New Zealand produce will be going on the market, and they may have a depressing affect. In view of this position, directors of factories will need to use caution. As to the prospects 'at or in the season they'will depend

argcly on the .European spring and industrial conditions in Britain. We trust they will be subject to a recovery With regard to cheese, it is satisfactory to note that the market has recovered a little, but a substantial recovery, cannot be expected at present or in the very near future, for there were fairly large quantities in store just before Christmas, and there is a heavy make going forward. A premium of 3/- to 4/- per cwt. has been paid for fullcream cheese over the price for standardised, and it has to be admitted that the people at Homo are still inclined to look askance at the standardised ■" article. However, a general survey of the marketing end of the industry at present, .certainly presents a more optimistic tone than that a few weeks ago, and if factory directors in this district carefully study the conditions overseas during the next few weeks, and we know that they are fully qualified tou care for the interests of their siipliers, then 'the season may end not so badly after all. Certainly the producer, is doing his share again this season. This is borne out by the fact that up to the end of "November, the production,;, in terms of butterfat, had reached th.c magnificient total of 52,70i,0001b5, compared with 47,67;">,0001bs for the same portion of last season. The dairy-far-mers of this district,, as associated with the primary producers of the province, .have not received the reward-thoir efforts merit, but it is to be hoped that the improvement shown in values of late will continue and that the season will yet return our district dairy-far-mers a more commensurate return than seemed likely a month or two ago. .