IMPORTS TO BRITAIN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 76, 31 March 1933, Page 6

IMPORTS TO BRITAIN

A PHENOMENAL INCREASE FIGURES FOR NINE YEARS The total imports of butter into Great Britain have grown from 249,115 tons in 1924 to 412,862 tons ro 1932. New Zealand’s contribution in 1924 was 51.847 tons; in 1932 it was 103. 427 tons. The Dominion’s average quota for the nine years 1924-32 was 21.72 per cent. Attention has been drawn previously to the phenomenal increase in the quantity of butter sent into Great BrAain, but in view of the serious position which has arisen in connection with the price of New Zealand and Australian produce some detailed figures should be of interest at the present stage. The three principal countries supplying the Home market are Uenmark, Australia and New Zealand, and of these the greatest increase has been in the case of Australia, whose exports, to Great Britain have jumped from 23,874 tons in. 1924 to 80,980 tons in 1932. The figures for nine years covering Denmark, New Zealand and Australia are as follows: Denmark N.Z. Australia Tons. Tons. 'Corns. 1924 .. 91,056 51.847 23,874 1925 . . 85,206 67,180 55,472 1926 .. 89,732 51,138 40,454 1927 .. 97,795 56,536 30,215 1928 .. 100,347 ' 67.343 33,583 J 929 .. 105.162 64.896 43,122 1930 .. 111,925 65.496 41,158 1931 .. 118,149 87.491 62,357 1932 .. 125,695 103'427 80,980 Theie are other significant features of the figures. Russia sent 601 tons of butler to England in 1924; in 1932 she sent 19,661 tuns. Finland has more than doubled her contribution—--5638 tons in 1924 and 12.023 tons in 1932. Sweden. Estonia, the Netherlands, the Irish Free State, and Ihe Argentine have shown an inclination to lessen their output, and France and -he United States have ceased exporting butter to Britain. Canada, which did not export to Britain in 1929, 1930 and .1931, ha? coms on to the market again, and in 1932 her contribution was 3335 tons. The following table gives the total imports into Great Britain during the nine years. 1924-1932: - 1924 ~ 249,115 1925 299.154 J 926 278,392 1927 288,639 1928 303,747 1929 317,868 1930 a . 323,662 1931 360.265 1932 412,862 Mention has been made recemlv oi the assistance which, the dairy farm ers of Australia have received in comparison with those of New Zealand. • n addition to high exchange, the Australian dairyman has had. the advantage of the Paterson plan. This scheme, which provides, for the stabilisation of the price of butter, was first advocated by the Hon. Thomas Paterson. AJ..H.R. The working of the scheme, which is quite voluntary, is controlled by a body known as the Australian Stabilisation Committee. Provision is made for levies on ail butter produced within the Commonwealth sufficient to pay a bounty of not less than 3d a pound on butter exported. Since January I. 1926, the lew has not been less than lsd per pound and not more than l£d per pound. The bounty paid has been as high as 4id per pound and tho lowest point was 2Ad, for a brier period last year. The bounty results in an automatic increase in the local price up to the amount of the bounty paid, and ibe average return to the producer on all batter produced is increased by approximately the amount of the bounty less the rate of levy charged. On an average production of 265,000,0001 b.. of which it is estimated that 180,000,0001 b. constitute the requirement fur local consumption, leaving a balance of 85,000,0001 b. for export, extent to which the producer would benefit from an export; bounty of 3d a lb. is shown as follows Increased value of 3d ♦ pound on total production of 265.000,0001b3.343.0U0 Less amount required to provide export bounty of 3d a pound on 85,000,0001 b. exParted' 1,1)63,000 Estimated net gain io prodecer 2.250,000