BUTTER AND CHEESE.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 December 1916, Page 5

BUTTER AND CHEESE.

SHORTAGE OF FREEZING SPACE. ACUTE STAGE IMMINENT. The shipping problem has, since the outbreak of the war. been (lie most scri-' 1 oui difficulty that those connected with, the dairying industry in New Zealand liiivc had to face, and has now readied a stage causing grave anxiety. Though there has necessarily been' delay at times, and the regularity of the'shipments has been greatly interfered with, there has never, until the present, been any serious congestion, and the produce hah always been 'got away. In fact, the lateness of the shipment; proved a benefit to factories at the end of hist Beuson, as the cheese reached London on a rising market and carried the factories ovei a slack market without landing any undue quantities. At present there stems to be every probability of a very s?riouß congestion. At the Moturoa Finessing Works there ar'e in store 21,<)O0 crates of cheese, of an estimated value of £120,000, and 20,000 boxes of butter, which, at a low estimate, .should be worth £72,000, or a total value of .££oo.ooo. This has all accumulated since the middle of November, the works having been cleared up to about the 14th by the Remnera shipment. There is also in store at Patea 28,000 crater, of cheese, valued at £IOS,OOO, and probably other ports in New Zealand are similarly circumstanced.

We are now in die flush of the season, an:! at present, sis far as can be ascertained by those who ought to know, the only boat in sight until the end of January is the Atliciiic, which will take from Moturoa 281!) crates of cheese and 3000 boxes of butter, of an estimated value of nearly £30,000. These values are calculated on cheese at »d per lb and butter at Is (Id per lb, but in view of the fact that one -prominent dairy factory secretary has received two cable advices that "the Imperial Government has taken all cheese ox Rimutaka and Arawa, ; no prices fixed," it is difficult to quote a price with any degree of certainty. Next week's shipment jnly represents about four days' make of dices? and four or five days' of butter, and as we are. now in the (lush of the season it can readily he seen that, it will not take long for the stocks to accumulate beyond the capacity of the works. We were unable ti ascertain from the manager of the works at Moturoa how much more space is available there, but it is quite evident the directors realise the position and are taking steps to cope with it. They have ciutilai'ised to ascertain what storage factories have, and what suitable storage can lie obtained in their respective districts, but it is not anticipated that any material help can be obtained outside the usual storage and shipping centres, though 4t is probable cheese could be held for a time in local halls or other buildings at some little inconvenience, and with probable risk of deterioration. In the towns, in this era of concrete building, if should be possible to obtain fairly suitable storage accommodation. It is understood that negotiations have been made for securing the use of one of the big sheds at the oil refinery, and also other buildings in . Xew Plymouth. Though butter requires special freezing accommodation, there should not be so much difficulty owing lo its comparatively small bulk, and it is to be hoped that the directors will be successful in obtaining accommodation.

The most serious aspect, i. tho im- | uncial, remarked a prominent dairy repiesentative to the writer, as affecting the amount advanced to suppliers each mirth. This question has received cireful consideration nt most factories, ,".nd it is understood Unit some of the local factories will pay out Is pel lb for November. With ut least two-third* of the November cheese unshipped, and the piospect in view that the bulk of it may still be here at next payment, it behoves the directors to keep the monthly advance as low as. possible, and thus Ij;, able to equalise and continue payments, rather than make the usual paynil for this month and have to call a u.dden halt latei on. The funnel must l/ve, and he cannot do so unless he gets the. value of his produce; but wo are iiglting for our existence as n nation, under conditions which have made 'itlie farmers' incomes possible, and theiar-nie-.'s themselves will doubtless see tins and back up their directors in all possible ways. The position to-day is a great disappointment, n» it was confidently hoped that both the powers that be and the representatives of the companies would have so fai recognised the absolute necessity of shipping facilities—if the farmers are to exist—and not have permitted all negotiations to be suspended, leaving this, the all-important factor, in doubt." It is yet hoped that an amicable ai'-angoment will be made, enabling our soldiers, sailors, countrymen and allies on the other side of the world to obtain our produce, and oy providing u« with the wherewithal in exchange, enable us to continue the production of foodstuffs to our utmost capacity for their consumption. The question is further complicated by the matter of sale- and consignment contracts already entered into and partly fulfilled. The utmost should immediately he made to come to such terms as are possible with the Government of Great Britain to furnish shipping accommodation to -carry our produce Home quickly. It cannot he assumed that the British Government wishes to rob the producers n the value it is prepared to give, and there should be no hesitation in accepting its terms. It is understood that arrangements have been made with the meat company directors aud the British Government, without any change in the conditions, and their good fortune in clearing out lust year's stock is due to this. Mr. A. Morton, chairman ol directors of the National Dairy Association, who is also chairman of the Moturoa Freezing Works, has gone to Wellington in connection with the matter, and on his return to-night it is hoped that he will have some more definite news regarding shipping arrangements to coium^'.icatw

AN UNCOMFORTABI.K POSi'I'ICX. ACCUMULATING IX STOCKS. By Wire—Own Correspondent Wellington, Last Night. The state of the cheese market is cansin;; considerable anxiety to merchants and producers, and some urgent representations have been made to the Government on th subject. Cheese is accumulating in the stores in large quantities, and the prospects of getting it shipped are not at all bright. The product cannot bo hold indefinitely without, deterioration or even absolute loss, Mid yet exporters are not able to secure any insurance that gdoqu&t* ipa.ee will be

.available within reasonable time. TK & Government Ims been pressed to move it '§ li'o matter, and has communicated j tho Imperial authorities, but replies « % far have not been altogether reassurw* ,a It is reported locally that the positio] | of some of the factories is distinctly ua, ;3j comfortable, owing to their inability fi (jf rtalisee upon the cheese they have M j ready manufactured and put into stor* 1 Seme of the sellers, it is said, would It .i. glad to accept a cash price below thi A rates that have rilled in tho trade fd ",! some months past. ( \ ': The commandeering of checs In * don at a price still to be fixed has n<jj "• made the position secure, since produce* } have still In face the problem of gettin i the product to market. When tho Ib( ■ penal Government oll'ered early in tl| season to take the wholt output at 9 per Hi, tho price was to be f.0.b., thy relieving the producers of nil anxiety 9 to shipping; but the deal was not coa pleled, an.l no proposal of a fcimity character ha? been made in lonnootia vith the commandeering scheme. - '• ' 'I ho matter is receiving :h> ■ ter"j of tiiu Government, i- .