FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 64, 24 June 1910, Page 7

FARM AND DAIRY.

THE DAIRYING INDUSTRY. .PROSPECTS FOR THE NEW SEASON. AN INTERESTING INTERVIEW. 'Among the visitors to Palmerston North is Mr. M. C. Dahl, who has joined the dairy produce department of the well-known firm of W. Weddell and Co. Mr. Dahl arrived the other day from London via Australia, and the object of his visit is to become /personally acquainted with those engaged in the industry with the idea of developing and expanding the firm's business on this side of the world. Shortly after his arrival in Palmerston Mr. Dahl was seen by a representative of the Manawatu Standard, to whom the visitor imparted much of general interest regarding the dairying industry. Referring to the proposals of the coming .season, Mr. Danl said that there was no doubt that owing to the exceptionally good prices that had been realised in .England during the past season by colonial produce a largely increased output could be expected from all butter-producing countries, provided climatic and other conditions are favorable, This may reasonably be expected. The demand for high-class butter at Home was, however, so strong that he did not think there was any fear of a serious decline in value, and he added that when he left Home it was not apparent that there would be any great accumulation of stocks of either New Zealand or Australian butters. It was, however, probable that the high prices of the past season would not be maintained, though at the same time there is an ever-increasing demand at Home lor first-class butter, and, consequently, there 'was not any likelihood of any serious decline. There were various factors at work to 'keep up the price of colonial butter, and, amongst others, he mentioned that Germany during the last two or three years has become a very large buyer, and is now a serious competitor with Great Britain in Siberia, En ipassant, Mr. Dahl remarked that during the last few years the importation of Canadian butter into Great Britain had been rapidly diminishing. The reason for this was that the population of Canada was increasing at such a rapid rate that most of the home supply was wanted for the home market. This information, said Mr. Dahl, referred principally to butter, but also in a minor degree to cheese. As far as the United,! States is concerned, supplies are practically nil. Continuing on this particular subject, Mr. Dahl said that the (principal supplies of butter for Great Britain were drawn from Denmark, France, Holland, Siberia, the Argentine and the colonies. During the last year or two the supplies from Denmark have been slightly less \ than formerly, the reason for this being that Germany has come into the market as a large buyer. Canada is practically out of the field, whilst the area of demand has increased so rapidly that there was no prospect, as he had remarked before, of prices coming down for some time to come. Continuing, Mr. Dahl said that one of the leading features of the butter business at Home during the past, season has been the almost entire disappearance of butter which was retailed at Is per lb, yet, notwithstanding this fact, the demand for butter continues to increase, whereas a few years ago, whenever this class of butter disappeared, down came the price ,of butter. Margarine and the best mixtures have almost entirely la-sen the place of the once popular shilling cut. Asked as to" the quality of New Zealand butter, Mr. Dahl said that speaking from his personal experience of! New Zealand butter on the London market this year, the quality generally showed a slight improvement on the previous year. The earlier arrivals were not quite so satisfactory. He was glad to say the reputation of New Zealand butter on the Home markets was better than that of anv other colonial make. rtts thought a little too much unsalted butter was produced jboth in New Zealand and in Australia during the months of December, January and February, and this accounts for the decrease in values as compared with earlier in the season. Asked as to the relative values of butter and cheese, Mr. Dahl said he believed that during the past season butter had beaten cheese, butter suppliers receiving a better price than the cheese suppliers. New Zealand cheese was coming more and more into favor on the London market, and the time should not be far distant when the price obtainable should be well on a parity with Canadian cheese. "Those engaged in the cheese industry at Home are watching," said Mr. Dahl, "with very great interest the efforts of New Zealand cheese-makers to improve the quality, for, after all, it is quality, and quality only, that influences tie market and secures .better prices."