FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 292, 4 December 1908, Page 4

FARM AND DAIRY.

THE BUTTER OUTUIOK. liccent cable messages have not been satisfactory to those companies which declined the high prices offered by buyers at the opening of tlic season aiid .determined to send their butter to the open market on consignment. There is a good deal of disappointments. One message calls it a collapse and quotes the price at 112s; but 112s a few years ago would have meant happy sunshine, not shadow. The extraordinarily good weather in Europe has largely added to the Continental supply, but it is not im-. probable that tile great increase of pro-' duction reported from Xew Zealand and

Australia has had something to do with the matter. With the cxpeelaiicn of heavy shipments coming forward it is 'natural that buyers should shorten sail. "It now turns out, however, that so far as this district is concerned the butter output for the November-December months will not be nearly so large as was anticipated a few weeks iiimi. "\s a matter of fact the.milk supply, owing to the absence of rain, is fall'ing fast At Mangatoki, says the llawera" Star, the factory has passed its Hush three, weeks ahead of its time and a short autumn supply is now expected. iiight I up (o ChrM.ui.is week (he supple should keep on increasing, but on N'oiembcr i 5 last the incomings at two of tlic stations associaied wi'th the Hawern dnirv factory were on the down gr;i . '■' :• ' ! has occurred at the-e factories is (he B 'cneral experience throughout (he pro. vince, and it is evident 'that the quantity of butter manufactured will be much less than was recently counted '. upon. From this it would appear that i in so far as the Taranaki consignments- j were taken into account the calcula- ]

liojis of those responsible for the fall in the market were mistaken. The slump has been occasioned nut by the I 'presence on the market of an overplus of butter, but of stories of huge cargoes coming forward. We expect (continues the Star) that tlio•• < i .. will immediately advise their agents at Home of the real and unexpected state of affairs in this district, and of the lessened production in consequence of the dry weather.