THE CHEESE TRADE.

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 71, 25 March 1933, Page 16

THE CHEESE TRADE.

Of the cheese imported into Great Britain the Commission found that "37 per cent, comes from. Dominion sources and, under the Ottawa-Agreements Act, enjoys the right of free entry to the market of the United Kingdom for the next three years. Supplies of cheese from foreign sources are_.at present subject to a duty oi 15 per cent, ad valorem. These foreign] supplies consist mainly of varieties not i manufactured in this country, many being of the luxury type which would continue to be imported though the duty were doubled. Thus, though an increase in the duty on foreign cheese might benefit to some extent the National Exchequer, it would yield little advantage to the home cheese industry. We therefore make no recommendation for a higher duty on foreign cheese. "At the same time, we cannot view ■without apprehension the possibility of low butter prices leading to a greater concentration on cheese production in the Dominions, and, should this happen, the collapse of cheese prices might be even more drastic than that which has taken place in Dominion butter prices. "In our opinion, the situation requires to be closely watched iv the near future, and the posibility may arise that emer--s gency action by agreement with, and .in the interests of, the exporting Dominions may have to be considered." The position of New Zealand cheese in the London market today is seen in its latest price o£ 41s per cwt for 'white and 4Ss to 49s per cwt ,for coloured, compared with approximately 60s t0,64s per cwt a year ago. From the Milk Commission's report it is to be inferred that imports of cheese in the future may be regulated.