FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 266, 17 December 1909, Page 1

FARM AND DAIRY.

MARKETING BUTTER. SELLING OUTPUTS ON CONSIGNMENT. Tlie common idea entertained by butter producers in this country in regard to consigning butter to the London market is that the consignee who makes the arrangement (through his representative) willi the factory at tins' end sells each shipment to the highest bidder among the retail grocers of London, ox of any of the large cities in which he is located. Apparently, however, there are other methods being followed by firms handling New Zealand butter ' on consignment which do not suggest an endeavor to secure the last sixpence for the produce. In the last issue of the London " Grocer" an advertisement appeared in regard to a brand of Tara- ' naki butter, which was' inserted 'by a ' middleman who liad evidently made arrangements with the consignees; thus the butter had to provide a profit for two London agents before it reached the retailer. The advertisement stated: "In addition to the output of many other butter and cheese factories, my provision firm have secured the whole of the famous Good Luck' brand of salt and saltless New SSenlnnd creamery butter, October to .March production, arriving fortnightly. December to May, amounting to S01) tons, on consignment. If you let me know your requirement at once' I can secure you fortnightly deliveries direct from London Steamers of this superb butter at our current market price. Very reasonable 'prices this season are now anticipated." If the above advertisement means anything it means that an agent of the consignee is to fix the value of M* consignment butter to his clients, awl that "he is selling the butter to arrive. What would happen, it would be interesting to know, should the experience of February, 1»0S, lie repeated..and butter went iip to 150s. Where the consignees' are a strong linn, no doubt, it is all right, but the methods outlined above suggest serious 'possibilities to the New Zealand shipper in the event of produce being consigned into weak hands.—Wellington Times. It is estimated by a Southern contemporary that if the output of cheese from Southland this year (!),i43 cases) is sold at fid per lb, this season's output, in Southland up to date will have yielded .€984!) 12s more than last year's, and even at per lb the increase will be £902!) 2s. Most of the milk need in Slam enters from abroad in the form of canned milk. The total value of the import of canned milk for the Siamese year ended March 31, 11)00, was 101,434 dollars, and for that of the preceding year 84,. r )B2 dollars, an increase of IG,B'>2 dollars. If there should ever come a time when New Zealand tos to give up pig-raising there will apparently be an outlet for its skimmed milk in Slam in the shape of condensed milk. Skimmed milk is already being condensed and canned experimentally in New Zealand. The Eltham Dairy Company manufactured (hiring November 272,4031bs of butter, and suppliers will receive .C!)s7li, at the rate of 10(1 per lb. The average test was 3.48. In the corresponding month lust year 21i0,2f121bs were manufactured, showing an increase for No-