MARKET SURVEY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20128, 23 April 1928, Page 9

MARKET SURVEY

DAIRY PRODUCE AND FRUIT BUTTER AND CHEESE IMPROVE. Received April 22, 9 p.m. (A. & N.Z.) LONDON, April 21. There are no signs of any improvement in the apple market, and importers arc getting decidedly anxious regarding the future, especially in view of the prospective heavy arrivals. The only ray of hope that can be found is that recently Great Britain and the Continent have been experiencing a spell of cold weather which has seriously affected the blossoms of all varieties of fruit. This is expected to mean small crops of all European fruits, so that later the arrivals from Australia and New Zealand ought not to meet so much competition as usual from cherries and other soft fruits. But for near arrivals the outlook is far from promising.

One of the leading firms of fruit brokers commenting on the position says, “The reasons for the unsatisfactory prices are firstly that the public has become less satisfied with apples, as Americans’ this year, although of good appearance, did not reach the usual standard as far as eating quality was concerned. Secondly, buyers obtained information of heavy quantities of Australians that had arrived, and were o; (the way, and they were most diffident about taking more than immediate requirements. ’ ’ Other traders express similar opinions asserting that the publication in newspapers of official statements or enormous supplies coming from Australia and New Zealand are greatly detrimental to produceers ’ interests. There are at last signs of recovery in •the butter trade, and dealings in Australian and New Zealand the last few days have been brisker than for a long time, though they are still not so good as importers could wish. Buyers seem at last to be beginning to realise that although shipments from New Zealand have been heavy, nearly 230,000 boxes having arrived here in March, supplies from the Dominion for the next two or three months will be materially lighter than last year, and it is expected that many buyers who have been holding off will soon have to replenish stocks. The position of the cheese market is also more hopeful than for tho past two months. We have been dependent ■mainly on New Zealand imports which have been slightly above actual consumptive requirements, and consequently prices eased somewhat. Considerably less will arrive from New I Zealand during the next few months and supplies are likely to be small until towards the end of June when the first heavy shipments of Canadian should arrive here. Consequently traders anti cipate an improvement in business.