Wairarapa Standard Published Tri-weekly, Price 1d. FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 1887. Butter Export.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2055, 15 April 1887, Page 2

Wairarapa Standard Published Tri-weekly, Price Id. FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 1887. Butter Export.

The New Plymouth settlers have, as everyone knows, gone into the butter trade largely, but the present season has been dead against them and they are now selling at any price. We notice that a \viter to the Budget i Seals with I’ o but to' - question. He -peaks of tli.i .i io -r.'.olc state of the

product butior in the local and Australian markets and says “ in all other parts of the world there urea class of people called ‘ met chant n,’ who buy prod non from the fanner and consign it to a market, they malting it their business to obtain reliable information on which to guide their proceedings. This class seems totally wanting in ihe butter trad,; of New Zealand. Wo are constantly hearing of butter selling at immense prices in various parts of the world, bur we very seldom hear of any but the most spasmodic efforts being made to place our product in these localities. To do this it requires a man thoroughly conversant with the trade, and with all the ins and outs of ships and money markets. Until such a class, or such a man, arrives in Taranaki, the farmer must expect to be placed, from time to time, in some such a fix as they are at present. In the absence of merchants, the farmers themselves must endeavour to reach outside markets, but they will be quite unable to obtain the necessary iutormatkm to bo successful in entering any but two quarters where our produce will be likely to sell to advantage—the Australian Colonies and London. The first I consider so well opened up by our local buyers and by the Loan and Mercantile Agency Co,, that I do not think any efforts of any farmers’ Society could improve matters there. But with regard to London, we have here the largest and smallest market in the world. The largest, as being able to consume an almost unlimited quantity of a known article. The smallest) as being absolutely doubtful of an unknown brand, and that therefore, however good, must take a back seat till something occurs to bring it prominently forward, wut?n it will be eagerly bought up on its menls- The London butter trade is ia verv i t ;/ hands, and the fresh butter, almost entirely, is sent from the Continent by one firm who have been years perfecting their arrangements and article. To send shipments to London only at times when our local markets are unavailable is to secure a low price for an unknown, unreliable article. But were a fair section of tho producers to guarantee to send their butter for certain months of tho year to London, n< 1m placed in the hands 1 (~(■’ C.ireln'lv .elect?"; evolve?', who a 'Uhl make m , ninn.'iess ;,i push tm* 1 at! aiii-i ~. ■? ,in, aid then l>e j ‘A ne in tCo e, oe >l\ without j a:.; expensive i . ?.-, |

n.ilf.ii.i, .-oi-i'l.-i, ami .-.ura produce being sei i in London on .iubrokers rfn fii i>n *. rack would bo cor la in be w oil I roi ■ iu« f'.L .rim; tor his shipment. Unco lei the (Hitter bo. asked for, our broker would be as well abb W (date -■ime; uu«, for throe or four kegs as large ones of 50 ami (10. Muller v/hicn leaves .New Zealand from .■September to b’ebruarv should be certain of reaching a fair market, that is of realising a return of not less than 7d per lb.’'., Wo quote tlie-e words because we think the Wairarapa farmers should lake some such steps at once to place I’., v butttr in the Loudon market. W hat is everybody’s business, how. ", is nobody's business,and farmers, while bewailing ibe present state of trade and the bad outlook for winter, do not take any action. Could not ■wo or three spirited men convene •meetings of dinners in the schoolhouses of certain di-triels to talk ;'er matters. This would load to a committee be>'g formed to make enquiries and to arrange for other

meetings. The room would cost nothing, and we will willingly advertise such meetings gratis. If our farmers will bestir themselves a change for the better will soon be brought about.