THE PRICE OF CASEIN.

Waipa Post, Volume III, Issue 130, 23 July 1912, Page 4

THE PRICE OF CASEIN.

VIEWS OF A MANUFACTURING COMPANY.

Referring to an article which appeared recently, remarking on a slump in the price of casein, the secretary of the New Zealand Casein Company writes : “ The article in question instances the case of an Australian manufacturer who has found it impossible to carry out contracts made by him for the purchase of skim-milk in Victoria, and has closed down his casein factory. From the information given it would appear that this gentleman has adopted the rather imprudent policy of purchasing the raw material at a competitive price without at the same time securing a market for the finished article. “It has to be borne in mind that casein is not an article for which a daily demand exists, as is the case with butter and cheese, nor is it perishable. Many manufacturers who use casein purchase theii requirements for a year or more ahead, in much the sameway as New Zealand dairy factories purchase salt, parchment, and other articles incidental to the manufacture of butter and cheese. We have received information from London that the market there is at present glutted with acid casein of a very inferior quality, mostly shipped on open consignment to houses that are not in touch with the consumers. On the other hand, we are assured that Continental consumers are readily found for considerable quantities of lactic first-grade casein on contracts, and at prices which make the production payable in New Zealand.