The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, JULY 8th, 1925. DAIRY PRODUCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 July 1925, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, JULY Bth, 1925. DAIRY PRODUCE.

Tin-: substantial export trade of New /calami in connection with dairy produce is engaging considerable attention in Canada, and in a recent issue tlte “Toronto Globe'' comments: Bctore the war Canadian cheese had till almost unchallenged position in tho British market. In 1910 cheese imported by tin* United Kingdom was value at 33,141,390 dollars of which 21,531,050 dollars came from this country. New Zealand was second with I a bout a (juarter of Canada’s exports, but since then it has made rapid strides. In 1920 it overtook and passed us, with exports to Great Britain valued at 45.162.185 dollars compared with 42,897,379 dollars for Canada. It has maintained its lead, and in the last calendar year exported 105,742.30-1. pounds of cheese to Britain, or 51 per cent of the latter's total imports. Canadian exports were 112.070,320 pounds. Dr. Maeklin of the University of Wisconsin, who has been in New Zealand studying the dairy industry for the United States Department of Agriculture, sav.s that

dairy production in the Island Dominion may double in the next ten years as it doubled in the last ten. He adds: New Zealand butter and cheese, once received in small quantity in London now represent the largest combined im[>ort of daily products from any country. Moreover, that country has outstripped Canada as a source of cheese supply, and is rivalling Denmark as a source of butter supply. This position has been won both l>v quantity and quality of production. In 2S years Xew Zealand, as a butter competitor of Denmark in supplying the British market, lias grown from a size of less than one-twentieth to almost three-fifths of the size of Denmark. There is a warning and a lesson in New Zealand's progress, but it need not be assumed that Canadian dairy products are being driven from

the British market. Our eheesemakers have responded to the .stimulus of tompetition, and, while they have not regained their ascendancy in the British market, they have ceased to go backward and are again improving their position. They are now shipping to (treat Britain about the same quantity as before the war. In the fiscal year 1923, the amount was LOG-3,504 cut.: in 1924, 1.193,810 ewt., and for the first eleven months of the fiscal year ending March 31st.. 1925. their sales were 1.183,310 ewt. As for butter Canada was only a small exporter before the war, and last year' shipped 14.713.888 pounds to Groat Britain. A study of British trade statistics shows that New Zealand’s gains in dairv products have been only to a small extent Canada’s losses. British consumption has increased, and less of the supply comes I rum the 1 nited States and some European countries than formerly. Conditions point to an enlarging market in Britain for all Canadian agricultural products. but New Zealand has forged ahead in a feulines by a policy of specialisation and State aid. A series of Control Boards has been set up by legislation to direct the marketing of meat, dairy product*, honey and fruit, it is a system of cartels or selling syndicates, which are deemed the agents of the owners of all products consigned to tbelli. They are provided with funds I,v a levy on all exportations—amounting to one-eighth of a penny per pound on butter, and one-clevoutli ot a penny per pound on cheese -and have wide powers in the handling, pooling, storing, shipping, sale, insurance and distribution of till commodities in their charge. They require that brands and grades be uniform and dependable, with a view to raising the quality. Shipments are adjusted to ’market requirements as nearly as possible, the Boards having a London office to advise them, and sending agents to study foreign markets. New Zealand is doing for cheese, butter, meat, fruit, and honey what the Canadian wheat pools are doing for the wheat of the prairies, but they are covering virtually all producers. The system is a peculiar combination of State and private enterprise. It is still an experiment, but Canada will do well to wateli it.