BUTTER & CHEESE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1807, 21 July 1913, Page 8

BUTTER & CHEESE.

PACIFIC COAST MARKETS, Mr. W. F. Crichton, representing Messrs. .W. Weddel and Co., Ltd., the well-known colonial produce merchants ot London, arrived from Sau Francisco by tlio Moana, and continued his journey to Sydney in the same vessel. A representative of Tiie Dominion had a very interesting conversation with Mr. Crichton, and obtained some first-hand information of the dairy produce trade in North America. Cheeso Prospects, Mr. Crichton stated that the exports of cheeso from Canada to the United Kingdom arc. decreasing rapidly, in fact many leading people in the Canadian trade were of opinion that in about five yejirs the exports would cease altogether. The local demand for th» products was increasing rapidly, for in addition to tho natural expansion of. population, there was a large influx of immigrants. Furthermore, tho United States was drawing supplies from Canada. Vancouver, in the meantime, was obtaining supplies from Eastern. Canada, but the Vancouver merchants were beginning to inquire about New Zealand cheese as they can see that before long they will be compelled to draw their supplies from this country. One or two trial shipments were made this season, but the results wore not yet known. New Zealand, from its excellent geographical position, was hotter able to furnish supplies to the Paciiio Coast than tho Eastern States or Canada, because tho latter had to' contend with the high cost of haulage by railroad. With respect to Great Britain, genuine British buyers were not /yst in a position to make any offers for new season's New Zealand cheese. During tlie season short sellers made money, but the legitimate distributors of the product ■ incurred losses. Speculators would probably make offers now, and possibly" a comparatively high, price would be offered for .a limited quantity, in order to stiffen the factories. Mr. Crichton stated that Queensland must be regarded as an important competitor in tho cheese trade. Queensland sent several lots during the season, and tlie quality was pronounced excellent, which was more than could bo said for Now Zealand cheese. The Butter. Outlook. Last year Canada did not send any butter to the United Kingdom, the entire make going into local consumption. Furthermore Canada exports a very largo quantity of cream to the States, and in a hot July tho demand is ' exceptionally strong, the ice-cream manufacturers being ready to take all that they can get. At the "beginning of the season the Vancouver butter merchants rushed in and bought at a price whicli tho Tooley Street "angels" feared to touch—consequently they lost rather heavily. This season they say they are determined to get back a bit of their own if possible, and will not enter into contracts covering the season, but will buy from steamer to steamer, or month, to month. The Vancouver merchants are well satisfied with the quality of New Zealand butter. In San Francisco it is generally believed that the Wilson Administration will at least reduce tho tariff on butter from 6 cents to 3 cents .per lb., and some go the length of believing that butter will be placed on the free list. 11l ally case, the merchants are holding off buying locally-made butters for cold storage, in anticipation of being ablo to obtain the fresher-made New Zealand product. Australian butter, too, was likely to find a market in San Francisco. Because of tho large population there, a considerable amount of -second-quality butter would find a ready sale. Margarine Competition. The competition of margarine in the United Kingdom is, according to Mr. Crichton, certainly a-factor,, but, ho added, there would always be a good demand for high-grade butter, provided it could be got at a reasonable price. The British public was now educated up to Realising that good butter could be bought retail under Is. 2d. per lb. When the market was forced up, and tho price artificially raised, then even the better class of buyers were compelled to use margarine, but, generally speaking, margarine was ousting the second-j*rado butter of poor flavour. New Zealand must maintain a high standard of quality, and if it did so, it need not fiear the competition of margarine. Tho margarine manufacturers at Home, said Mr. Crichton, were employing first-class chemists at the' Salaries of Cabinet Minister.-, and they wero producing an article which so closely resembled butter in colour, texture, and flavour that even experts were puzzled to distinguish the difference. Furthermore, to encourage the consumption of margarine, the manufacturers delivered to retailers in small quantities several times a week, so that the product reached tho consumer i'resh and sweet, and with the aroma of butter. Tho margarine trade, he added, wa9 growing.