EMPIRE’S DAIRY FARMS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19448, 6 November 1925, Page 9

EMPIRE’S DAIRY FARMS

WEDDEL AND CO S REVIEW. BRITISH STANDARD OF LIVING. In their annual review for the year ended June 30, 1925, Messrs. W. Weddel and Co., say: From the study of the course of market prices and statistics of supply n respect of imported dairy produce during the twelve months ending June 30 last, the most striking fact revealed is the surprisingly heavy consumption of butter and cheese in this country, at a moderately high level of retail prices, in spite of continued depression in the export trades and a large volume of unemployment. This is borne out more particularly by the imports of butter whch were considerably larger than in any previous year, while the average prices realised, instead of being lower, as a result of the heavier supplies, were actually appreciably higher than in 192324.

In the cheese trade similar conditions prevailed, but in this case the heavier supplies available entailed a small reduction in the average level of wholesale values.

As butter is an article of food which is extremely sensitive to fluctuations in the fortunes of the working classes, and as there seems to have been no corresponding reduction in the sale of margarine, nor any evidence until the last few -weeks of a reduction in the Home make of butter, the only inference which can be drawn from these facts is that the general standard of living of the mass of the people was never higher.

From the returns of importations of butter and cheese into the United Kingdom from the various producing countries, it will be observed that each of the Empire sources of supply augmented its output of butter. Australia’s capacity for expansion, when that country is blessed with a good rainfall, was amply demonstrated by a “record” production both in quantity and quality, the importations from the Commonwealth showing an increase of 134 per cent over the preceding year. .With materially increased shipments from both New Zealand and Canada, the proportion of Empire-produced butter imported last year represented 47 per cent, of the total arrivals into the United Kingdom, as compared with only 35 per cent, in 1923-24.

On the other hand, most of the foi- • eign totals were considerably reduced,' the effect of an inclement winter and a heavier demand from Germany being visible in the smaller supplies from Denmark and Holland, while a severe drought in the Argentine resulted in a temporary check to the growing butter industry in that country. From Rus- . sia, however, for the first time since . the early years of the war, importantl quantities of butter were received m | this country, and there is every indica- 1 tion that before long Siberian >utt<r | will regain the position it formerly held , in this market.

Fortunately the great bulk of our , cheese supplies arc still produced with- | in the British Empire, the proportions | being 88 per cent. British and 12 per • cent, foreign. Shipments from New Zealand showed no increase over the preceding year, but heavier supplies were received from Both Canada and Australia. The totals from the other sources call for little comment, except, perhaps, to direct attention to the apparently steady growth of the export trade in Italian cheese. On the whole, the quality of the general run of New Zealand better showed little or no improvement over that of recent seasons, the more extended adoption of the practice oi home separation of the cream probably . accounting for the larger proportion of second grade butter shipped by somq i of the factories. In Australian butter, however, a marked advance in quality was noticeable, chiefly as a result of the splendid season enjoyed in the | Commonwealth, but to a large extent due to the stricter system of grading j employed, and the universal use of the “Kangaroo” brand for choicest butter. The same remarks apply with equal force to Australian cheese, the quality | of which last season was exceptionally fine, while the crating and handling I showed a distinct improvement over! previous seasons.