DAIRY PRODUCE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 328, 21 January 1909, Page 4

DAIRY PRODUCE

NKW ZKALAXD lll'TTKl! AND OIIKKSK. THE I'OSITKIX IX HKITAIX. Tlic Di'i>nrtiiiisit of Industries and Commerce has received tin' following V port., dated -llh December, from I Ik llairv I'loducc Commissioner hi Loudon: ISiiltcr.- I regret to inform you llrji since making my last report concerning thi' market for >"cw Zealand dairy |iri'-iliu-i', the. price nf butler lias shown a -toady ami considerable decline, pricohaving fallen during the past Uiv 'i weeks over 1,1 per jit or Ills per cwi The priee now is lIIV for choicest quality. As mentioiH'd in my last report, 'distributing houses ami retailers lliroiwlioul the cuinitrv have considered it pri'fe.ralile to keep' nil' the market waiting for shipments from Xciv Zealand to arrive, and then to buy their requirements at, market price rather (liiin to -crurc supplies liy buying forward, as has been extensively done in former vears. In this policy they have lveen greatly assisted by i-iiinitlie con ■litiun*, thi' weather this year having been unusually inilil and open. The i|iiuntitv of lloini-pniiliiei'd butler has 1 n larger than ever previously known. and has continued comiii" on the market for a. much lengthier period. The result has been that Home supplies have bei'.i freely purcha.-od for tin- retail Iradr. while considerable quantities of butter received from the Continent, especially from Siberia, have been, placed in cold store. Those stored supplies are now bciii" gradually drawn upon, and as the price asked for (1 l has been considerably lower th-.v-i thai- for colonial shipments, (he market has been extremely disappointing. Holders of X'eu Zealand butter. Undine,- dillieiillv in disposing „f Ihe lir.it new season', arrivals a! satis faclorv prices, have been Irving lo induce sales bv reluct ion in price. This, 'however, has ao( liccn successful. It. has been found that until aecuiuulaled slocks in store arr clciired. dislributing houses and retailers arc not inclined lo increase their holdings. There would alsn appear to be a considerable feeling of resentment on the part of some houses that fornierlv secured New Zen land' butter direel in the Dominion, bill, this season have been unable to do so, against the few houses that have purchased Hie butter in large qiianlitv. It would seem as if there were an understanding to lot these few

houses—some of whom aro not direct distributors who have paid extreme prices for factory outputs, carry Ihc butler mid unload it as best ihey can. Last week 1 went to Bristol to call upnu the merchants there in order 10 uncertain lo wJuil extent business in New Zealand butler Has boijij: done in the West of .England. 1 found that so far, with the exception uf one or two houses thai, had entered into cojili'iici, ■lor small factory outputs, few transactions had taken place, the inclination there also being to hung back. 11l conversation the matter of tile reporud increase of moisture in, New Zcalond butter, which has been so persistently | advocated in the "Dairyman," came up. As an illustration of the feeling of doubt in the minds of distributors and retailers 1 was informed by one morctiniu that lie had sold to a retailer one hundred and fifty boxes of first-grade New Zealand butler, lo be delivered at the rate of leu boxes a week. The retailer, however, owing to articles.he had real, iiwide the stipulation when buying that the butter should not contain over 12 per cent, moisture. Such a stipulation is unusual, i understand, however, tint similar conditions arc this \ear being imii.li- bv buyers. 1 believe that this is largely'owing to the articles Hun have appeared in the paper mentioned, which 1 am inclined to believe lias a wider circulation amongst, tlm trade in iliis conuliy than is understood in Sew Zetland. 'The fact that such a stipulation with regard to moisture is being .made proves, I think, that New Zealand butler has maintained its reputation and high price largely owing to its freedom friaii moisture. 1 am strongly of opinion that if the percentage is increased buyers here will soon find it out and will 'then decline to pay the 'premium that has hitherto willingly been given lo secuic New Zealand oulpttU. The lonic shipment of butter arrived and' was landed in good order and condition. The nuality has been entirely satisfactory to those, handling it. Cheese.—The market for cheese has remained steady, although business has been rather quiet during the past three weeks. Shipments of Cunadiaii' cheese have now ceased. The Canadian supply is reported to be less than anticipate,!, and as a result there is now a better feeling, and prices are inclined lo harden on the market. The average price .or Canadian, cheese has been tils per ewl, ranging from .ills for lower qualities to (12s "fur the besl. The New Zealand cheese by the lon,ic has been well up 10 the average, of early shipments of previous seasons. As formerly, it has been found somewhat immature, and will require to be held for some little time before it is in proper condition for use. Little of it so far has been ollered on the market, as holders are disinclined lo let it go at the price ollered for it—58s to alls per ewl. It is considered belter to hold the cheese and let it mature, when higher prices could be scoured, rather "than sell it now. The prospects for cheese are encouraging, and J inn of opinion that the price of New Zealand cheese will not fall. (Sgd. 11. C. CAMEKOX. Produce Commissioner.