EXPORT OF BUTTER

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1975, 4 February 1914, Page 7

EXPORT OF BUTTER

GOOD PROSPECTS. OUR TRADE WITH AMERICA, ROOM FOR EXPANSION. By Tdettauh-'Pross ABSocfatlan-Oot#rlslii Sydney, February 3/ Mr: Hornaday, the representative, of a number of American papers, is visiting Australia and Now Zealand to specially inquire regarding the meat and butter trades. 11q is convinced that the prospects are favourable for a very largo business in tho 'exporting of those products, to tho United' States. It is unlikely that tho Now Zealand meat export will bo increased much, but a largo expansion in tho butter trade js promised.

In a recent article is. tho ''Oregon Sunday Journal" (Portland, Oregon, U.S.A.), Mr. It, ¥. Meyer, general manager of the North-west Butter and I'Mduoc Company, has tho following to say regarding the ihvportutipn of Sew Zealand butter:—lt is a. Weil-known fact that tho average dairyman <if the north-west has not, as yet, given serious thought to tho importation of Now Zealand butter, nor has ho Cons.ide.resl in just what ways his bu-Si-' übs9 will be affected by it. Consignments of this product already received hare had considerable -effect upon local markets, and it is quite evident that, unless something is done to meet butter so imported, tho dairying industry in tho west will bo most seriously affected. Only last week 169,000 -pounds of New Zealand, butter were receir-Ad at Seattle consigned to various creamery interests in the north-West, Another shipment of 336,00.0 pounds is -due in Seattle on January 10, and this shipment will' likewise ho placed on the -market of tho coast cities. ,The quality ;of'tho first, shipment -of New Zealand butter received was not tory_ good. The following consignment received included 3BG cubes from one. creamery which were condemned and or* dered to bu shipped into Canada. At that time wo all t-iiongbt that Oregon fresh ■creamery gutter- had but a Weak competita' in .this, foreign product. It is an undisputed -fact, however, that the quality, of later shipments lias, been of the very best.' Tho butter is free from all preservatives, as the Government inspection is rigid, and the inspectors ore very particular. , "v' Expert butter men at Seattle have given this W'te-r a, very high score- \ In justice to our creamery men and dairymen, it ffiaj' be siid that New Zealand creameries can produce this nice, clean flavoured butter by reason of the foot that their season ivo\(- corresponds to ou-f Slay aiul June, and their eows are now glmz-ing on rich, green pastures. Another- fact worthy of note is that nil their butter is made in whirfc-iiii-lk plants. The milk is separated at the creamery, and creamery operators are thereby assured off nice, sweet cream, from which to manufacture their..wholesome butter. The creameries •are under rigid Government- inspection, and in nearly alt : cases tho plants are larger than any So have in the northwest ■■■'•.

It is not'to be denied that this, New Zealand butter, coming into our markets., will affect the price of wr butter aiid butler-fat' It easts 30i cents to lay down New Zealand butter ill Seattle. Allowing an. • additional -$ cent for'freight and brokerage, this butter would cost Portland dealers 31 edits-. In. other wnrds, Oregon butter must come down, to this ieveUor like quality in. order to meet this competition. . <f I believe that the Oregon .butter-maker is capable 01 producing butter of a stand-!nrd--e.qu.at il tbja-iiy foreign product., if his ".patrons' will' furnish" him with sweet, cfeam. K, however, the dairyiuan persists .in bringing in. state, sour, termented sreauv iP his ©reairietfy, then Oregon ■ creameries .-will bu . unable *to make as', good butter as this New Zealand,.product. The dkect result Will be. that -the Oregon creameries ■? will ha unable ..to.; pay the usual price for e.rKini, and -l-lio dairyman, iuiist bo s.atisfied ■ with less. Tho whole question hing4s upon the farmer, aSd it behoves him to improve his conditions and surroW-ndings, so that he may supply his creamery with first grade .sweet cream. Legislation Alight to be enacted making it compulsory fo.r dreameries to pay for crejnn o'n ; a, _qual'ity basis. 'Then let the careless, shiftless,' and indiffereiit dairyman take what his cream is worth. There -is JBt'eam • corning into' Partla-hd now that is 'absolutely unfit for conssmiption, but under tho present conditions tho same price is reGe'ived for it as- for first-grade cream. . 1

There- will bo other butter in this market before .long. Local dealers aro -a-1* ready contracting' far butter from Denmark !p ho shipped via Panama Canal this spring. There is no tatter butter made than this Danish product* and on the London market it is ■cSjisicfercd tho top. brand, wit:)! New Zealand butter as heeoiid best. New Zealand and Danish butter is'very similar in composition, due to tho fafct that the New Zealand Government has offered special .inducements for Danish butter makers, injury of whom have taken advantage of this opportunity and a-fo. now located jn_ New Zealand, tinder .present conditions there is ntf incentive for largo creamery interest's and butter dealers to plate the spring surplus of Oregon bntt'or iii storij'ko, ami consequently butter and butter fat prices will drop to tho lowest level in their history. ' Wo have at Our door a most formidable 'Competitor, one wo mustj, face squarely and honestly. Tho only way tlio fai'ijifir <sjai possibly hope to. receive a fair price for bis cream is to take proper care of it and to make more frequent deliveries'. . Soni.e days after the appearance of Mr. Meyer's article, the' following report appeared in the same journal:— "Preliminary steps' toward the formation in Portland of a hotter exchange to liandl.o the Oregon output were taken to-day •at the iruH-nomah Hotel, where •crta-ftrtrjf i men from Portland and all parts of the State met a,nd discussed the proposition-, Overwhelming • expressions of opinion as voiced by sneakers were to the effect that the creation of an exchange would be of great educational, and financial value to butter maker's providfid it was organised and conducted pro'norly. "This afternoon offmors and stockholders of the-' Northwest Butter ami Prodiwe Company, which directs tho affairs of the Northwest Butter and Produce Association, will take up tho subject for fur* flier discussion in <*xecn'ttvo' nmetmss. Later, it is said, aiiothor r>flll for i meetof creamery men will be issued nnd if satisfactory n'trangemr-nts can bo made the pronosnd pvclinnge. will bo

"tjinler the present scheme as outlined, onlv livHor *.M<l« in Oregon would hi marketed through tiro Prtchnniw. All pxcpfs "butter *iot ecus'trttod hv Hip' several local markets of the cc-untry c'ronmuvifa wntlli' be •ill'tinctl to i\m exfhan."" l in Tojf'nml. w] Micro graded, and said ■to M< n lifehflst bidder.

"Although' 110 raonHon <if the' matter was inn:A» .-it the this forenoon, ><-. is S(ii-1 that tb« prnnosilion to TOtl* Hir> PTnhiT"'''o 'i for l-'io 'nirj.wsn of centralising tho Oiwon' hutler nwV rsvon.ni>> in? io oo'!i"P*o uiitl if lywsihlp, Pxclu'lo (V.Fpisr'i-i"H.dp i)llti'"Vs. ' nar(;io"lariv W« ■nW Vlonln-.d product, friiii) Hi? iwit-W, Whether this eon he doiip is ndmitMlv ji. question whmli rontons f or the OrS* gon ercamcrv men to solve,"