DAIRY PRODUCE

Waipa Post, Volume 47, Issue 3359, 26 August 1933, Page 7

DAIRY PRODUCE

NEW ZEALAND'S OVERSEAS MARKETS.

OBJECTION FROM WEST INDIES.

The glamour of Far Eastern markets for New Zealand dairy produce continues to fascinate some advocates oi more markets for the exports of this Dominion. But there ar<*"reports of dairy activity on modern' lines in Manchuria, ready to supply any demand for iresh butter tnat is'at present being met by Australia and some iiJurepeari exporters of butter in tins. New Zealand has been doing a moderate butter trade direct with the West Indies, a trade that was done before from London. The island of Jamaica, with a population of over 800,000 (mostly coloured) people, appears to have been receiving particular attention. With the prevailing low values cf our Dominion product, it was possible to market our finest butter in Kingstown, capital of the island, at Is per lb. Not only was this profitable to the New Zealand exporters (it is not stated whether they are proprietary or co-operative), but it also relieved to some slight extent the glut on the London market. Bult the Jamaican producers resent the most recent aspect of this competition, and they complain that New Zealand is selling in their market at Is per lb. The Times correspondent at Kingston,; Jamacia, reports that a memorial has been presented to the Jamaican Legislative Council on behalf of planters and penkeepers interested in the breeding of dairy stock and the manufacture of butter calling attention to the fact that the entry of low-priced New Zealand butter into Jamacia is having a serious effect on the local industry. The petitioners point ou't that there are invested in the island's dairying industry, in eluding dairy cattle, refrigerating plants, machinery, and land used exclusively in the feeding of such cattle sums aggregating more than £75,000. Labour involved in the production of buttter in the island costs about £9OOO per annum. There are produced in Jamacia more than 200,C>001b of fresh ■ butter annually, and if sufficient encouragement were offered the industry mjght expand to meet the entire needs of the local market, which in 1932 consumed more than 670,0001 b of imported butter. Up to 1929 importation of this article was largely from Canada at prices which enabled local producers to earn a margin of profits on their operations. During the past four years, however, importation from New Zealand has increased and at declining prices. In 1929, 552,9221 b of butter, valued at £53,682, entered the local market, of which 347,7681 b, representing £33,763, came from Canada, and 137,5621 b, worth £13,402, from New Zealand. During 1932, out cf a total importation of 670,7431 b, 50,7331 b, valued at £53,682, entered the local market, 6571 b (£27.317) from New Zealand. New Zealand, the petitioners state, buys nothing from Jamaica, Butter from this Dorminion 'is coming into the island at a cost of less than Is per lb. In view of the quantity of milk required to produce lib of butter (from 7 to 10 quarts), it is impossible for producers' of native Jo compete .with importations frcih. New Zealand, and consequently Jamaican production is declining. . Creameries in the central portion of the island, which hitherto purchased milk from penkeepers and small settlers, are no longer able to do so, it being impossible to offer dairymen even one penny per quart for their milk for butter production.