WANTED FOR THE WINTER.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 521, 31 May 1909, Page 8

WANTED FOR THE WINTER.

FIFTY THOUSAND BOXF.S OF BUTTER. HAVE WE GOT THEM? • No important change lias taken place during the past week in the ruling, values of factory butter. It is generally reported in tho country districts, howovor, that tlio supply of milk is slightly less than' it was at tho corresponding poriod of last season. This was scarcely anticipated in view of the abundance of feed which has prevailed all through the autumn and still exists, but apparently tho cows, after their .heavy milking season, have dried off moro rapidly than usual. The question of whether thero will bo a shortage of butter for tho rest of the winter will depend on the quantity ascertained to be in store at the end of this month, when tho quantities are checked, as usual, x by tho Dairy Commissioner's staff.' At the end of April the butter in store in New Zealand comprised 41,605 boxes, as against 71,479 boxes at the end of May of 1908. But last year 20,000 _boxes of this, quantity was oxported, leaving therefore about 61,000 boxes for localise. Of the May quantity last year Auckland held 20,781 boxes. This is nearly 7000 boxes more than Auckland's estimated May holding : of this year. During the past month Auckland has added practically nothing to her April storing,- which was 13,700 boxes.- Those circumstances seem scarcely to warrant-tho Auckland view that prices will not rise. Judging by last year's experience, the quantity in store to-day ought to be not less than 50,000 boxes. With that quantity in hand last year we had a very tight squeeze to make ends meet. The scarcity was emphasised by the brief feverish demand from Australia and South Africa, at tho very end of tho winter. \ But tho consequent high prices on the local retail market no doubt lessened: the consumption and thus economised "the supplies. : It appears, therefore, fair to conclude that if,; as .reported, the'current output of butter is not greater than it was last year, and if prices are. not to, be raised above their present figure, then 50,000 .boxes of buttor in store at the end of this month would be barely enough to remove all anxiety as to a shortage; ■ ... ... . , , -