AUCKLAND’S BUTTER-FAT

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 538, 15 December 1928, Page 12

AUCKLAND’S BUTTER-FAT

BIG INCREASE SHOWN MARKET PROSPECTS SOUND Refreshing rains during the past fortnight have given increased impetus to the production of dairy produce throughout the Auckland Province. Returns supplied by the Auckland Farmers’ Freezing Company for the period show an increase of just over 9 per cent., compared with the figures for the corresponding fortnight of 1927. The yield for the season to date is nearly 8 per cent, in advance of that for the first five and a-half months of 1927. At the moment there is approximately 33 per cent, more butter awaiting shipment in Auckland grade stores, compared with this time last year, but heavy shpmients are to be made within the next week or so. In any case, a fairly large percentage of the season’s make has been sold forward, and the responsibility of the dairy company concerned ceases once the butter is passed by the graders. The most important point, however, is fact that the London market is registering a very healthy tone at the moment, and a drought in certain parts of Australia, and a slight shortage on the Continent, augurs well for a continuance of that tone. The quantity of cheese held in store is less than that held at this time last year. Returns Over Past Fortnight Following is a summary of the number of boxes of buttter and crates of cheese received at the grading stores of the Auckland Farmers’ Freezing Company during the fortnight ended December 12, followed by the receipts for the season to date, and the quantity in store at December 12, with comparisons for the corresponding periods of last year in each case:— Butter. Cheese. 1928. 1927. 1928. 1927. Fortnight 154,356 142,532 12,849 11,094 Season .. 998,068 929,917 75,100 66,206 In store . 125,114 93,767 10,854 11,819 In terms of butter-fat the butter and cheese yield for the fortnight represents an advance of over 9 per cent, above that for the corresponding period of last year, when the effects of the costly dry spell were beginning to be severely felt. The yield for the season to date is nearly 8 per cent, in advance of that for the same period of 1927. Until the last few weeks the current season, favoured as it has been in weather conditions, has had little advantage over last year. The increased production is, therefore, a very real thing, and with the certain promise of a great increase in the next five or six weeks at least over the very dry time last year, the statistics of the flush period should show a still greater improvement as the season advances. Dairy Company Pay-outs The Bay of Plenty Co-operative Dairy Association, Te Puke, will pay out £27,408 to suppliers on December 20 for November butter-fat, compared with £22,129 last year. Payments to date this season amount to £79,533, compared with £61,274 last season. The Kakepuku Dairy Company will pay out £1,993 for November butter-fat, compared with £1,929 in December last year. The advance is based on Is 6d a lb. of butter-iat. * * * The Norfolk Dairy Company will make an advance at the rate of Is 6d a lb. of butter-fat for cheesemaking, totalling £4,470, compared with £4,231 for November, 1927. * * * The Tataua Dairy Company will advance £8,078 for November butter-fat compared with £7,264 in November, 1927. * * SIS The Whangaroa Dairy Company reports an increase of over five tons of butter in its November output, compared with the output for November, 1927. The pay-out is at the rate of Is 4£d a lb. for finest grade butter-fat. * * * The Te Awamutu Dairy Company manufactured 114 tons 14 cwt. of butter during November, compared with 73 h tons during the corresponding period of last year. The company is making a cash advance on December 20 at the rate of Is 5d for finest butter-fat. Shareholders will be credited with an. additional ? s d a lb. The total pay-out will amount to £14,888, compared with £9,055 last December.

SOUTHERN EXCHANGES YESTERDAY’S SALES Press Association Wellington.—New Zealand Breweries, bonds, 25s 6d; Bank of New’ South Wales, £SO 7s 6d; Pukemiro Collieries, 65s 6d; Commercial Bank, 30s lOd; Auckland Gas. 23s 9d. Christchurch.—Christchurch Drainage Board, 5£ per cent., 1973, £IOO 10s: Bank of New Zealand (“D” and “Mort” shares), 28s Id; National Insurance, 16s 2d; National Mortgage, SSs 6d; Christchurch Gas, 275, 26s 9d; Timaru Brewery, ISs (two parcels); New Zealand Guarantee Corporation, 8s sd; Mahakipawa, Is 3d (eight parcels); Union Building Society, 16s; Auckland Gas, 23s 9d (two parcels)Waihi, 14s 7d. FEILDING STOCK SALE Press Association FEILDING, Friday. Late rates were maintained at the r eliding stock sale to-day. There was a medium yarding of fat cattle and a heavy yarding of dairy stock. Fat bullocks made from £l2 to £l4 10s; cows, £7 to £l2 15s; maiden heifers, to £ll Us. Dairy cattle—Springing heifers, £7 to £lO 15s; cows in milk, to £l3 10s; heifers in milk, to £B. Stores: Cows, £3 17s 6d to £7; cows and calves, £7 5s to £10; w’eaner steers, £1 17s 6d; yearling steers, £4 2s; Polled Angus steers, £6 10s to £8 2s Gd; yearling hejfers, £3; heifers running with bull, £o ss. Sheep: Fat lambs to 31s 6d: black-face lambs, 25s 6d; two-tooth black-face withers, 28s lOd to 29s 3d* four-tooth maiden ewes, 31s; maiden ewes and wethers, 28s 8d; other ewes, 23s 6d to 24s 4od; wethers, 30s to 32s Bd’ Two-tooth store wethers, 26s Sd to 29s 2d; four-tooth store withers, 29s 6d.

SUN COMMERCIAL SERVICE A special section for readers seeking information on financial and commercial questions is included in these columns every Saturday. Names sn<2 addresses must be given in every instance , although not for publication , and inquirers are requested to send in questions early in the week, addressed to the Commercial Editor, THE SUN. X (Ponsonby): The scrip is unsaleable and has little prospects. Buyer (City): The company is not listed on ’Change. Buyers could be found for the scrip around 30s. A.L. (Mount Albert): We think you were wise. It is highly improbable that the scheme will come to anything. Trader (Hamilton): A progressive, wellmanaged concern. Has a paid-up capital of £55,000 and a pay-roll of 250 to 300 employees, according to the season. “Curious” (ParneH): The policy has a surrender value at the expiration of 31 years. You should write to the head office of the company in Wellington, as all business of this nature is arranged there. Apart from that, the company is one of the soundest operating in the Dominion and its rates compare favourably with those of competitive concerns.