THE BUTTER AND CHEESE MARKETS.

Shannon News, 27 February 1925, Page 4

THE BUTTER AND CHEESE MARKETS.

BETTER PROSPECTS.

After a prolonged depression, there is every, project for an improvea tone in the butter market for-thene** tew weeks. Principally, owing to the low retail prices, the consumptive demand for butter has considerably in. creased, and although heavy stocks are still being held, the tremendous. congestion in New Zealand and Australian butter has been greatly relieved on the London market. Forward buying which had practically ceased, is reviving once more and several offers of 15-4 1-8 and

Is 4 1.4 d for February and March deliveray have been made as well as 1/5 for unsalted. It is doubtful, however, whether much butter is changing hands at these figures as most fac. tories appear to be certain that a better tone will prevail shortly. Big Prices for Danish.

Danish butter is still commanding high prices and has apparently been little affected by. the New Zealand glut. This fact fully proves that there is not so much an oversupply of but. ter on the London market as there is an oversupply of New Zealand butter. Although statistical figures aire decidedly against any big advances tn,e present figures (1665-168 s) should not only be maintained, but a slight Increase may be looked forward to. Fuller use should certainly be made of any available re-export trade be tween London and the Continent. Factories making butter without pre. servatives can,> of course, only avail themselves of this class of business. Denmark is repeatedly playing the English and Continental butter mar. kets against each other with complete and beneficial success. This is one o the reasons why Danish butter is still selling at 45/_ per cwt. more, than New Zealand. Cheese.

The cheese market is still remarkably steady and although no big advance has eventuated so far, the market is taking the heavy arrivals well and without any apparent effort. New Zealand cheese is ■ practically the only cheese available in any quarters just now and if the market is judiciously fed prices for the season should give a fair return to the producers. New Zealand ohees e is selling freely at 96/. just now and a slight increase rather than a decrease may be ex. pected. \ '

Storing. The question of storing has received a great deal of attention lately, and opinions differ whether dairy produce should be stored in New Zealand or London, or whether it pays to store at all. Unfortunately, too, much harm has already been done this season to anticipate much benefit from storing. While it is admitted that the storage

facilities were better and cheaper In New Zeaand, it is pointed out that in order to reap the full benefits of storages it must take place handy to the market. Although several agents are, recommending their clients to store at least some of their butter in New Zealand, it is doubtful whether much benefit will accrue from such action until such time as some concerned ac_ tion is taken in this direction, with a view of regulating quantities to be shipped.