THE CHEESE MARKET.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 93, 26 April 1913, Page 4

THE CHEESE MARKET.

The latest advices from the Home market that cheese has dropped to fifty-eight shillings seem to dispose once and for all of the bonus, which suppliers, hoping against hope, are even now expecting. This further drop of one shilling must prove disastroirs, for, with the new English and new Canadian cheeses coming on the market, the hope of recovery is almost nil. The season for cheese has certainly been most disappointing. On previous occasions the Companies have lost by selling, and the initiation of the open consignment system has come at a most unfortunate time. On an average the market price for cheese is Id per lb. below last year’s prices, or, calculated on the basis of butter fat, suppliers will receive something like 2|d per lb. less than they did last season. How the butter factories are faring is more difficult to estimate, as tlih price at which the companies have sold is hot common property. One thing is clear, the dairy companies making butter 1 have reason to congratulate' 1 themselves 1 on the faith which they have reposed in their own branch of the industry, Had they been dazzled by the prospects of cheese, and gone to the great expense of converting their plants, the results must have been disastrous. The causes of the collapse of cheese are. not very apparent, but it may safely be said that the increased production in the Old Country has been a determining factor, while even the increased production of over twentyfive per cent, in the Dominion’s export must have had its effect in weakening the market. Of course what we have stated above, it must be remembered, only applies to -e conditions of the present season ; in fact, the present moment. As to what the future may bring forth, it is impossible to say, for no one is able to predict what conditions may arise to affect either butter or cheese in the future.