THE CHEESE MARKET.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 96, 30 April 1913, Page 6

THE CHEESE MARKET.

[To The Editor Stratford Post.] Sir,—l was very interested in your ■ sub-loader anent the above subject, ‘ but;with due deference to your opinion, think that you have rather failed 'unending a satisfactory reason for , ithd disastrous drop in prices of this very useful commodity. In iriy opinion, the reason for the low price is not because of the quality of our cheese, or quantity either, but simply 'HmV'syStem oT*dtSpoSair It is well knqwn that .as much as 6 9-16 d pCr lb. for cheese and Is 9id (one arid a halfpenny) per lb. for butter, f.0.b., was offered and refused by many companies, both these prices being exceptionally good, if they are not a record. I notice you say : - “On previous occasions the companies have lost by selling;meaning, of course, that having sold ’ their'Outputs, their butter or ch»es6 Was sold on-the London market at a considerable advance. Birt -makes the market at home? Not the producer, but'the consumer; then it mutt bo the distributors or middlemen, 1 and they arc quite immune from our control. For years 1 have advocated the straight-out sale f.o.b, and this must always be the best, except under the condition, and that is when the Home buyers have brought most of the produce of the New Zealand factories. Then the few factories who have not sold will enjoy the benefit of the strong market made ,by the middlemen, of distributors, they being the principal holders. I don’t think the extra quantity of cheese sent Homo has anything to do with it. Buyers come out here from England and elsewhere and got nothing except instructions to sell at market rates for a few hundred pounds commission. They are not going to trouble much under the circumstances, and it is not to be wondered at. It seems to mo that the “power's that be” are too greedy, and dont wish the “other fellow” to make anything at all. I notice, sir, that you say, “it is impossible to predict the future, for no one can tell what the conditions may be, etc., etc.” But is it not a fact that nearly all the Boards of Directors in this district are doing nothing but gambling in futures? They have a very fair offer submitted to them, be it for butter or cheese. In the case of the former the price offered to the Midhirst Co., I am informed, was Is 0)d f.0.b., for the season’s output. Will any supplier to this factory say ho would not be pleased with this price? What/does it matter to us if the holders of our butter take it to London and obtain Is 6d per 11) for it. W,e cannot do it, and I expect our knowledge of the inner movements of the London butter market can bo safely put down as a negligible quantity. It does not reflect on the directors’ business ability, as the market is beyond our control. One in the hand is better than two in the bush, but the business acumen of the different companies’ directors, and all the glory attached thereto, departed when they turned down an offer of 6 9-16 d for cheese and Is Old for butter. Arc we down-hearted? “Nil desperandum.” Apologising for tho length of this letter, sir, I am, etc., ARTHUR RICHMOND.