A VISITORS’ IMPRESSIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 24 January 1921, Page 3

A VISITORS’ IMPRESSIONS

Mr A. L. Wicks, a dairy produce of Wellington, who has been on a visit to ,the West Coast in connection with his export business of butter and cheese, states there is every expectation that the present prices will continue, lu the cheese business the latest advice shows an increase in London of as much ns 7s fid per ewt. This has been brought about hv the fact that some twenty of the large cheese factories iu the North Island with an output of 20,(MX) tons in a season have swung over and are now making gutter, which will create a shortage of cheese in the London market, thereby causing the rise in price. The fact of cheese factories changing to butter making will not affect the British market as butter prices are fixed till 31st March, and after that date all butter in New Zealand will be required for local use. ft has been pretty well guaranteed in London that for next season a free market will he obtained and it will be very surprising in view of latest figures to hand, if more than 2s fid per lb is not obtained. In fact ono could almost estimate that 3s per lb f.o.b main ports would he nearer the mark. This is easily accounted for. Great Britain has a poulation of 50 millions, and the average consumption per week per head is 4ozs., hut the present allowance, which has recently been increased is only 2ozs. so that at the present time Great Britain needs 50 per cent, more butter than she is receiving, and this shortaye will no doubt continue until that hoped for time comes when Siberia will be able to again export. Referring to this district Mr Wicks expressed the opinion that tliero was ( an unlimited opportunity for increasing j tho value of tho land, and after using West Coast butter for local trade in New Zealand he had, arrived at the conclusion that the West Coast butter export had a great future before it, while the district* prospects had made him most optimistic as to its future when much of the waste land was brought into cultivation. j