BUTTER PRICES

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XXIV, 1 December 1925, Page 2

BUTTER PRICES

GLOOMY OUTLOOK FOR JANUARY.

CONTROL BOARD SILENT,

j WELLINGTON, Nov. 30. 1. The butter market outlook is causing those Interested in the trade a good deal of anxiety. The new developments are the direct effects of the strike of British seamen. No New Zealand butter is expected to arrive in England between November 22 and December 1, but then the Turakina, with 10,147 boxes, the Athenic with 40,275 boxes, the Tainui with 16,652 boxes, the Tongariro with 27,588 boxes, and the Dorset with 10,393 boxes, will arrive in quick succession, and Australian supplies will be about normal. In January, approximately 14,vXM) tons of New Zealand butter will be reaching the terminal market. This is 50 per cent. more than was received last January and is equal to about 20 per cent, of the total quantity exportable. In addi tion to this it has been ascertained tha.t Australian butter shipments arriving in January will amount to 8000 tons, and it can be seen that with this heavy weight of butter on the market there must be a drop in values, which may easily develop into a serious slump. Already for- > ward buyers are holding off the market, preferring’ to await the heavy arrivals before making pir-

chases, when, no doubt, they will be able to buy more cheaply than! ia possible at the moment. Everyone is anxious to know what the Dairy Control Board intends doing in the matter, as so. far the Board baa given no indication that it has any scheme for dealing with ihe situation.

There does not appear to be the same anxiety with respect to cheese, notwithstanding that the January arrivals are expected to amount to 13.000 tons. It is stated that most of the cheese has been sold and Lon don importers will handle the situation so as to avoid any loss. Cheese prices are expected to be fairly steady during the next three or four months; not so butter.