DAIRY INDUSTRY

Hokitika Guardian, 2 January 1930, Page 3

DAIRY INDUSTRY

OVERSEAS MARKETS. NEW ZEALAND’S PROSPECTS. AUCKLAND, Dec. 30. Prospects for New Zealand’s dairy industry are satisfactory, according to Mr J. B. Macewan, the well-known Wellington dairy produce merchant who returned by the Aorangi 'from a trip to England. Dairy farmers, however, would have to keep pace with all world’s markets. “New Zealand butter .is meeting with increased competition' chiefly from Continental producers,” Mr Macewan said. “The producing conditions on the Continent appear to he favourable, and those in the industry are using up-to-date methods to produce butter of excellent quality. . It is imperative that New Zealand butter should not fall below standard, and that constant attention should he paid to efforts to improve quality.

“In spite of competition the market for New Zealand butter is extending. Safes outside the Dondon markets are increasing, and there can he no doubt that.there is a large market awaiting development in the North of England. Direct shipments would help to extend New Zealand markets in this quarter. Better' and more regular shipping services are necessary in order to keep the Dominion’s primary products to the fore. Faster services might prove more costly, but Mr Macewan thought that regular steamers running direct to English market ports would prove of great assistance to exporters. “Concerning the immediate future, the opinion is generally held in England that Australian production will exercise considerable influence on the London market,” added Mr Macewan. “If there are heavy exports from Australia a drop in prices is likely. However, this does not alter the fact that im.England there is very considerable goodwill toward New Zealand’s primary’ producers. • It. appears to me that New Zealand producers are not closely enough in touch with English requirements, principally in regard to the texture and flavour of cheese. There’ is an. exceptionally good market ifor cheese, but it must he to the taste of the market. In this respect there must be general co-operatino between producers and exporters, or considerable, ground may he lost. | r ‘New Zealand frozen meat continues to be in good demand, and there are excellent prospects for the develop- 1 ment of a market for frozen pork in right sizes and weights. It is absolut- 1 ely,, necessary for everybody to work together on broad national lines. The value of Imperial trade is recognised now more, perhaps than it has been in the past, but it is our duty to study the requirements of our overseas markets and do our best to meet them.” V \