NEW ZEALAND BUTTER.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 224, 16 February 1928, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND BUTTER.

COMPETING WITH DANISH. On his return recently from a trip to Britain and the Continent, Mr. J. G. Harkness, of Wellington, made some very interesting comments on the relative positions of New Zealand and Danish butter on the London markets.

Mr. Harkness said it is a bitter thought for those interested in the dairying industry in the Dominion to know that butter produced under such ideal conditions as in New Zealand sells on the London markets at 2id a pound below the price paid for the Danish article. Mr. Harkness expressed the opinion that New Zealand butter is in every way superior to that imported from Denmark, even though it has to undergo a severe test in the way of refrigerated transit across the globe. This is due to the fact that, whilst in Denmark the dairy herds have to be housed for several months in the year and fed on root crops, the herds in New Zealand are fed in the way which nature has demanded. They have the natural green growth almost all the year round, and the climate is such as, to make winter housing unnecessary. These conditions naturally make for healthy animals, which in turn must provide a very much j superior product.

Consuming Public Conservative. The consuming public of Britain is very conservative. It has taken Denmark half a century to build up her dairy produce trade with Britain, and this was well established before New Zealand came on the scene as her, rival on the London markets. The people relied on Denmark for Sifaqir butter supplies, and it was a hard task for the New 'Zealand article to gain a footing. During the 'war period the Danish supplies were diverted to Germany, and it -would have been thought that the -opportunity for New Zealand butter had come. There is no doubt that the sales of New Zealand produce in London did increase after the war, hut .the demand for the Danish was still heavy, and is to this day. There is no prejudice against New Zealand butter in Britain. The present position i® due to ’the fact that the purchase of DanifJh butter has become, a custom -with “the people—a .custom that iis hard tfeo break down.

Comprehensive .Advertising Scheme. . The -only way that a hetter demand can be created for New Zealand butter is’hy a comprehensive advertising scheme. This may be costly, but the money aused in this direction would be well .spent. .At present the marketing off New Zealand butter is far from satisfactory. A large proportion is used to blend with the inferior articles from other countries to bring them to a grade more satisfactory to the consumers, and this means that the bulk of our export butter is in the hands of manipulators and speculators. The most desirable thing; for this country is to sell New Zealand butter intact to the consumers. The quality is there, and tMs fact would in a few years be appreciated by “those using it. By doing this there is bound to be a heavier demand for New Zealand butter—a demand that would go »on increasing. There is no doubt that New Zealand butter is the best in the world, and the dairy farmer is at least entitled to receive the same price as the product from Denmark. Under existing conditions he is “being made use of by money-making (Organisations, and it is to be hoped that the Dairy Control Board will evolve some .scheme to remedy this wrong, though it has to be admitted that the task is a big .one.