Butter.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7926, 6 October 1904, Page 5

Butter.

The butter market has improved slightly, but as yet only stored Ne-.v Zealand butter is being marketed, realising 965, as against 98s to 102s a yeai: ago. The first ■of the new- season's butter left last week, arid if will be late next' month before it gets into Tooley street; The first of the new-Victorian butter was.sold in London about a fortnight ago, and sold at 104s for salted, and 106sfor unsalted. Taking 104s as the basis, the return, after deducting freezing and all other charges, is estimated at a fraction below lOd per lb in Melbourne. The highest price paid in New Zealand for September-October make 3s reported at 9id for brands with an established reputation. The buyers hayer not had a very pleasant time this season Negotiations have been prolonged, an 3 the factory directors have not exhibited any keen knowledge cf the market tendencies ; their aim has been, to get thesame price as last year, and a little more if possible. The buyers, are to blame for not exhibiting; more cohesion on the simple rules. For instance, it was agreed to abolish that vicious clause "without recourse". from contracts, but almost as soon as the agreement was arrived at, contracts weio made on this basis. -

The statistics of the past five years are very instructive. Messrs W.Weddel and Co. furnish the following figures of the butter imported into the United Kingdom:—

The total quantity imported for the year ended 30th June last was 218,948 tons, so that over 16 per cent, of the total came from Australasia. The average price obtained was only 99s lid per cwti as compared with 107s lid in the previous year, and 100s 4d, the smallest price in any other year in the decade. The above figures fully explain the reason for the fall; in' the .past year the colonial output showed enormous growth, and- the indications are for a further expansion this year; yet producers fancy or believe they, are entitled to a higher price than was received in the past season.—Post.

Year/end- Australia ■ N.Z. Foreign edJtihe3O- Tons Tons ' Tons 1900 17,653 7,949 133,957 1901 15,556 8,912 143,549 1902 7,449 8,295 160,672 1903 1,053 9,575 176,320 1904 19,655 15,836 173,573