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Hokitika Guardian, 12 January 1931, Page 4

The full ill prices for New Zealand butter at Home, is sharpening the interest generally ill marketing methods, and it is easy to anticipate that an imprdvemeiit will be brought abbut. Reports generally appear to iiulicate that hitherto there lids hot been much attention paid to the details of the marketing! There is a Dairy Control Board In existence, and it is main* tained at a high cost for its ppenuqona. From the various statements made, the marketing of New Zealand butter has not been one of its strong points. In regard to marketing of the commodity, the opinion is being expressed very freely that the Board has not justified its existence. It has exercised its interests in various other directions, no doubt- helpful to the industry and profitable to the producer, but the old scheme of marketing it has accepted, has not been a success and there is now a demand for a new scheme on different lines entirely. According to the reports coming to haiul, New Zealand butter is rarely put on the market ill an attractive state—which is a sweeping statemnt to be made in all the circumstances. It is being alleged that the Dominion article may be had at the retail stores in bulk, but only when demanded. What is worse, is the story that most of the New Zealand commodity is mixed with a large percentage of lower grade butter. Therefore, it rarely reaches the retailers for disposal to consumers with its identity known. .Seeing the pains taken at this end to grade the produce, and send forward the best quality for consumption, it is a shock to learn that all the good work is undone at the marketing end, where by blending the high grade quality is lost, and the commodity as sold is without reputation. This disclosure does not reflect to the credit to the Dairy Control Board, and we may be sure there will he a demand for an overhauling of the Board methods. The information available in respect to this matter indicates the disparity in price between Demark and New Zealand butter. The European article has its identity well disclosed, and being well graded, has grown in popularity till there is a steady demand for the butter, and the regular consumption maintains the price. The New Zealnd article on the other hand, loses it identity, but enjoys some favour because of its quality, for blending purpose The fact that flavour in New Zealnd butter is not an essential .in the grading process, suggests that there was general knowledge in certain places where the butter went. It is obvious that blending purposes is not a very high recommendation for price, and this might have been realised earlier. If it is realised now. it should be possible to improve marketing conditions, with a resultant benefit in price, and the interests of the producer certainly demand that.