BUTTER AND CHEESE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 9, 11 September 1913, Page 6

BUTTER AND CHEESE.

THE LONDON MARKET. The following remarks aro culled from the report on the London dairy produce market for the past season, prepared by the London office of the N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd.:— Blitter.—hi reviewing the course of the market for the past 12 months, it is perhaps well to recall the position at the close of the preceding season. The English and Irish makes were then at their flush, a good production was experienced in Siberia ; Holland and France were shipping more than in the corresponding period 1911, whilst, on the other hand, Denmark and Sweden were exporting on a smaller scale. Droughty conditions were reported from the Australian Continent, and exports thence for the season were expected to be considerably less than in 1911-12, while with many New Zealand factories changing over from buffer to cheese, a smaller supply was-,looked for from that quarter. It was generally thought that after July supplies in the Northern; Hemisphere would naturally shrink, but the excessive rains and mild open weather experienced from that date onward caused a heavy make of butter, especially in France, Ireland, and Great Britain, with thp result that there was a smaller demand hero for Australasian butter than would have been the case had normal conditions 1 prevailed. Again, consequent upon the heavy make of butter, the Continental demand for Colonial was curtailed, the quantity available for the United Kingdom, pro tanto, being thu; augmented, Argentine butter, which came in heavy quantities throughout the season, also competed severely with Australasian. At the beginning of the season extreme prices' were tendered for New Zealand factories outputs, hut, emboldened by the high returns of seasons 1911-12, as well as with the tempting offers made by buyers of Canada (which country absorbed a much heavier quantity of New Zealand butter than ever before), many refused to soli, and although throughout the season good prices rid-, cd, the results to factories proved less satisfactory than had the early offers been accepted. It is noteworthy that for the first time since the inception of the industry, the value of the exports of dairy produce from the Dominion during the 12 months ended 31st March, 1913, exceeded that of frozen meat, the figures as given in the Customs returns being £3,915,791 and £3,691,170 respectively.Cheese.—The conditions prevailing during the period under review were quite different to those experienced during 1911-12 season. An excellent make of English and Scotch cheese was available, while, with good rains, Canada made and exported more, cheese than had been expected. There was, moreover, an abundant output in New Zealand, and although from time to time strong efforts were made here to support the market a restricted demand was experienced, and in the face of the largely increased supplies, stocks accumulated and quotations had to he eased to 'stimulate the demand, with the result that vaules ruled upon a lower level than the preceding twelve months. As in the case of New Zealand buttera, some exceptionally good prices were offered for outputs and those factories which elected to sell exercised a wise discretion.