The Waikato Times FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1911. DAIRY PRODUCE MARKET.

Waikato Times, Issue 12180, 15 September 1911, Page 4

The Waikato Times FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1911. DAIRY PRODUCE MARKET.

The review., of the AustraVasiau dairy produce market for the past season, which reaches us from the New Zealand Loan aud Mercantile Agency Company, (Ltd., is an interesting 'document. It states that in butter the past season is noteworthy for the record production in Australia —an increase of almost fifty per cent, as compared with the heavy make of 1909-10. In New Zealand, supplies were almost on a par with those of the preceding season. At the opening it was anticipated that the course of the market would be very 'much on the same lines as that of the preceding season, and on all sides a high level of prices during January and February was generally looked for. In consequence extremely high bids were made for the outputs of New Zealand factories, while for the earlier shipments of Australian extreme prices were paid. The prioes asked by New Zealand! 1 factories, however, were generally above those which speculators were prepared to pay, and but little was >sold outright, the 'bulk of the outputs being shipped on " consignment without recourse." Declining markets were met almost throughout the season, an attempt to force up price at the beginning of the new year 'made by certain bag speculators proving abortive owing to the heavy weight of supplies. Toward the close, with dry weather and a stimulated demand on account of the Coronation festivities, the market took an upward turn, values at the end of June marking an appreciation of fully 6s per cwt. from the lowest point touched. Germany, France and Italy made heavy calls on supplies, but 'n spite of these there was plenty to meet all requirements anrf leave a surplus. Had there been any considerable Bhipments from the Argentine, instead of a very short supply, undoubtedly a much worse state of affairs would have prevailed. The very wide differenced in prices between Danish and

Australasian butter, especially New j Zeal awl, has occasioned comment amongst producers, and in this connection the report points out that it must be remembered, that Danish butter can be piaced on the counter within a few days of its manufacture, while in the case of New Zealand seven or elzht weeks must elapse ■Lef< re it is available for consumptlcn her j. " Thus, excellent thju.h j it be, the' prolonged refrigeration cannot but have an adverse etleot upon the butter ; and for this reason, amongst others, Danish is favored in some markets to the exclusion of New Zealand, or any other box butter, and thus, having the fi»ld to itself it is in a position to command a premium. We have previously drawn a comparison between the selling policy of the Danes and tha/t of some colonial houses, and our remarks should afford fond, for serious reflection to those in the Dominion and Commonwealth, who aidvocate placing the whole of the butter production in a few hands, though of course the indiscriminate employment, of numerous selling agents, who are alsa speculators on their own account. is equally to te condemned in the interests of producers and the trade as a whole." In commenting on the prospects of this season the report concludes : "We understand that conditions in Australasia are favorable to a he<avy make during the coming season, and while prospects are of course uncertain as to the future makets, we cannot heip 'but feel that as the draught in France, Ireland and England has created a igood consumptive demand, and though the cold stores are at present full, all supplies will be wanted, more particularly as the consumption of butter in nearly all Continent >1 countries is yearly increasing, while during the winter months smaller exports thence to the United Kingdom may he looked for. In these circumstances we feel justified in anticipating that next season will prove satisfactory to factories in Australia.