WELLINGTON NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 27 August 1925, Page 4

WELLINGTON NEWS

DAIRY PRODUCE. (Special to “Guardian”.) ( WELLINGTON, August '2-1. The continued strength ol both butter and cheese markets is remarkable i in view of the fact that there lias been < a substantial increase in supplies par- ( Ocularly of butter. For the 7 months ( to the end of July the imports of but- < tor into the United Kingdom totalled < J.BGS 757 cwt, an increase of 720,*375c*wt I compared with the corresponding seven < months of last year. Taking the two i months June and July there was an in- ] ( reuse of 170.000 owt. It is obvious i from this that although supplies have 1 increased they are still insufficient to ] meet the demand, and that makes it dear that even if supplies increased by 20 or 2b per cent prices would still be on a paying basis. The drought in i Huro|>e curtailed supplies Irnm that source, but even if Europe had contributed what it was expected to it is possible that no very great diflerencc would have been made to values. Ihe substantial increase in the imports oi t,utter for the seven months "its mainly if not entirely due to the efforts of i New Zealand and Australia, and parti ularly to Australia. The favourable (limatic conditions that have prevailed in the Commonwealth have enabled tlm dairy farmers there to increase production, and there is every indication that there will he a further increase ibis season. It is Australia and not the Are-enline that is our most formidable ( onipetitor. The exports of butter Imm the Commonwealth tor the year ended June IV) last totalled 2.11 1b.28.1 boxes. Australia will export quite as much butter as Now Zealand in the season 1920-20, and the quality will not he intli'lt below ours ii any. This season will he the last for free marketing in New Zealand. That is it the Dairy Control Hoard's proposal for absolute control is sanctioned by the Government. and the whole army ot buyers who have Imilt up connections in the Dominions must readjust their business affairs. Some have, it is stated, already decided upon their course oi' action, am! probably most ol the local establishments will be closed and the representatives recalled. It is bard to believe that these linns will accent the situation blacidly. It they make a good deal of noise and voice protests we should imagine that they were making the most of a had ease, hut if they are silent and making it appear that they accept the position, there would !>• reason for believing that their plans are deep laid and that they will give the Control Board a good run. In any case it would he idle to assume that Ibe buyers will do nothing.* As the Australian Control Hoard is not interfering with f.o.h. or c.i.l. sales attention is sure to ho concentrated on the Commonwealth, and efforts will he made to greatly iitt reuse the output of Australia, where there is scope for great expansion. TRADE AND OTHER STATISTICS. .Ministers of the Crown quote trade and other statistics in such a way as to imply that the Government is in some wav resnonsihle tor the favourable chan refer of the figures. At Auckland last week the Hon. J. G. Anderson, .Minister of Industries and Commerce. expressed satislaction with the trade balance as at July .'tl. the exports for tic 12 mouths ending at that date showing tin excess over the imI arts of tib.tibS.bti!) which is unquestiouablv very satislnclorv. But tin* .Minister should also have told his audience that this result was due to wool speculators paying fancy prices lor wool which landed them in heavy losses. There is a very little chance of our exports running up to t-TO.tffMl.(!( )o in the (•'lining season unless there is very big expansion in production. Wool will nut bring within L'b.(Kill.(Hill ol what it realised in tin* past season mil - withstanding that the clip "ill he larger. ami lroz.cn meat is also likely to bring in less money. The frozen meat business has not been very profitable in the oast season, and this will he made clear when the balance sheets are issued. the first of which, covering the year to Julv :il. should lie available very soon. Always harping on one aspect of trad other statistics is regarded by some people as being optimistic and taking a ebnprful view of the .situation, which are just plausible excuses for a species of dishonesty. In the House not so very long ago. Sir Janie- Purr referred lo the P.D. Savings Bank figures and pointed out that for the half year to .June JO. there was a substantial excess of deposits over withdrawals, which was quite correct, but if In* had added that |or the 12 months ended June JO the withdrawals exceeded the deposits by (>1.009, and that for the-nast four years the withdrawals exceeded ti e deposits hy stihstiiutial amounts in each year he would have given a different and more correct idea of the situation. When politicians quote figures they generally are of little value, for they stan.'lv ever coavev Hie truth.