BUTTER AND CHEESE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 143, 20 June 1939, Page 11

BUTTER AND CHEESE

DECREASE IN BRITISH IMPORTS N.Z. SHIPMENTS LOWER' Imports of butter and cheese into Great Britain during the first five months of this year were definitely lower than for the corresponding period of last year, according to the returns issued by the Primary Products Marketing Department. Butter from all sources at 191,232 tons was 11,000 tons down on the 1938 period and 3000 tons less than in 1937. New Zealand was the chiet supplier wdth 58,892 tons, but this represented a decrease of 4343 tons compared with the five months of last year and was 11,131 tons below the figure for 1937. Imports from Australia and Denmark were also below those for the five months of last year. The following table compares imports of butter into Britain for the first five months of three years:—

Total foreign 82,914 89,215 82,654 ' Grand total 191,232 202,210 194,299 , There has been* a substantial decline in the imports of cheese into Great ; Britain, the total for the five months ended May 31 at 46,712 tons being 8182 -tons beloxv that for the 1938 period and 9409 tons less than in 1937. The decrease is accounted for largely by the smaller imports from New Zealand, which at 33,650 tons, were 5174 tons less than for the live months of 1938 and 10.013 tons Hlow those for 1937. The detailed figures are given m the following comparative tabic:—

New Zealand Exports Down Shipments of butter from New Zealand last month were 9175 tons, compared with 11,894 tons in May, 1938. a decrease of 2719 tons. For the ten months ended May 31, exports of butter from the Dominion totalled 109,787 tons, compared with 127,572 tons for tne corresponding period of last season, a decrease of 17,785 tons, or 13.94 per cent. Shipments of cheese from New Zealand last month were 6691 tons, compared with 8359 tons for May, 1938, a decrease of 1668 tons. For the ten months ended May, exports of cheese totalled 69,590 tons, compared with 73,446 tons for the corresponding period of 1937-38, a decrease of 3856 tons, or 5* per cent. Australian Shipments Higher Shipments of butter from Australia to the United Kingdom last month totalled 9547 tons, compared xvith 3732 tons in May, 1933, an increase of 5815 tons. For the ten months ended May--31 snipments were 84,407 tons, compared with 76,438 tons for the corresponding period of last season, an in-

crease of 7969 tons. Shipments of Australian cheese to the United Kingdom for the last ten months were 14,010 tons, compared with 10,777 tons for the corresponding period of last season, an increase o; 3233 tons. Position of Stocks The position of stocks of butter at June 1 is as follows: — 1939. 1938. Tons. Tons. • Estimated stocks of all butter in. London in- ( eluding private and , provincial stores and steamers not discharged 23,600 25,348 Export stocks in New Zealand, including loaded into steamers not sailed finally at June 1 - 15.700 20,000 > N.Z. stocks afloat 11,824 15,247 - Total 27,524 35,247 ' The estimated stocks of cheese at London, Liverpool and Bristol at June 1 compare as follow: ' 1939. 1938. Tons. Tons. New Zealand and Aus- ’’ tralian 9,347 6,758 j Canadian 3,282 2,382 1 12,629 9,140 ■ Stocks in New Zealand, ’ including steamers not sailed finally at June 1 . .. 21,500 22,000 N.Z. stocks afloat 9,964 11,114 31,464 33,114 Total in sight 44,093 42,254

New Zealand... Australia "■ive months ended May, 1939. Tons. 58,892 41.074 1938. Tons. 63,235 46,513 1937. Tons. 70,023 34,975 Irish Free State 1,287 1,625 1,844 Other British countries 7,065 1,622 4,803 — Total Empire 108,318 112,995 111,645 1. — Denmark 40,137 46,226 45,518 Finland , .... 3,676 4,455 3,528 Soviet Union (Russia) — 1,032 Sweden .3,864 6,553 3,936 Netherlands ... 17,289 13.488 14,461 Estonia 3,062 2,908 2,089 Latvia 5,198 5,142 3,408 Lithuania 3,217 2,810 2,010 Argentine 2,271 963 4,956 Other foreign countries 4,200 6,670 1,716 - ■■ ..

New Zealand... 33,650 38,824 43,663 Australia 4.300 5.800 3.225 Canada ...; 1,972 2,419 1,234 Other Br tish countries 1,345 501 835 Total Empire 41,267 47,544 48,9.57 Netherlands ... 3,253 4,692 4,896 Italy . .1.222 1,476 1.262 Switzerland ... . 306 364 264 Other foreign countries .. . 664 818 742 Total foreign 5,445 7,350 7.164 Grand total 46,712 54,894 56,121