The Daily News. THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 1902. COLONIAL V. DANISH BUTTER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue 81, 10 April 1902, Page 2

The Daily News. THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 1902. COLONIAL V. DANISH BUTTER.

»—_—. An important article, headed "Colonial v. Danish Batter," appears in a recent issue of the Grocer, the principal orgaD of the leading provision dealers at [, Home, The journal in question sap:— " The position and prospects of butter are now occupying the attention of the trade more immediately than has been n noticed for some time past, and the impression seems to be gaining ground that prices in the near future are likely to be higher than they ire at present. The continued extension of the demand for the article in general, combined with the shortage in the production of colonial sous, which is becoming more strikingly evident as the season pro gresses, are the chief reasons for so undesirable a change in the outlook for butter; and as this happens to be a period of the year when foreign descriptions are scarcest, there is little to prevent holders from somewhat raising tbeir pretensions." As to the fallingoff in shipments from Australia to England, the journal says :—" By persons competent to judge it is reckoned that the deficiency is more likely to increase than to diminish, as the vessels now leaving there are carrying much lighter consignments of the said commodity for ,■ the United Kingdom than they were at the corresponding period last ye'ar; and it is roughly computed that the whole supply for 1901-02 will be only about one-half that imported here in the previous season. One element of satisfaction, however, is that New Zealand is producing and sending forward butter more abundantly than in 190001, though not sufficiently so to countflract or make up for the material diminution occurring in Australian produce of that class; and it is apprehended that greater scarceness will be experienced before adequate quantities __ of European grass butter can be made , available for consumers. Closely connected with colonial butter is the Scandinavian sort known as Danish, which has been competing much more severely with Australasian makes than hitherte, but decidedly to its own disadvantage, as stated by Messrs W. Weddell and Company in their circular. That firm . likewise remarks: —' The attempt of the Danes to injuro Australasian shippers has failed, and they stand discomfited with enormous losses to thamselves. New Zealand and Australian butter is selling at only 2s below Danish, and even at equal prices. . Such is the result of tho attempt to injure their Australian opponents. Along , with the collapse in Danish butter , there has arisen a feeliog in the North of England that considerable quantities i of butter coming from Denmark are ' not of Danish manufacture. If this j feeling should grow it will be a granH \ opportunity for colonial butter to se- . cure a still firmer hold on our mar- t ketf,' This, as we understand it, has ( betn the aim of the colonists since the ! opening up of the industry, and should i he kept steadily in view, so as to render I the enterprise altogether commercially ! successful." !