THE OUTLOOK FOR PRODUCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 June 1919, Page 5

THE OUTLOOK FOR PRODUCE.

A FALL LIKELY. MR. HAROLD BEAUOHAMP'S OPINION. Wellington, Juno 13. In the course of his address to-day Mr. Harold Beauchamp, chairman of the Uank of New Zealand, said: .When the I Imperial commandeer expires, as it will about the middle of next year, it is probable that the prices of wool, meat, butter and cheese will decline, partly through the stress of competition, but mainly because our customers, being impoverished by the war, will be unable to pay high [irices. A fail in prices will atfect the prosperity we are now enjoying, because it will involve a reduction iu our income, and this can be recovered only by increased production. We must bring more land into profitable occupation, and farm on scientific lines.

In the dairy industry laudable efforts are being made to increase the number of products: in other words, to eliminate waste; and these efforts should be encouraged by the authorities. The manufacture of dried milk, sugar of milk, casein, etc., is alrlady undertaken on a somewhat extensive tcale, and steps are being taken to substantially increase the output of these manufactures. Some of the Waikato dairy companies sent to America, some months ago, a deputation consisting of three experts, to look into the method of dried-milk manufacture; and as the result of their investigations three dried-milk factories are to be erected in the Waikato district, to deal with tho skimmed milk of not less than 20,000 cowg. Taranaki and other, dairying districts aro following suit and are proposing to send two competent meu to America and elsewhere to enquire into the manufacture of dairy by-products.

As regards casein, the manufacturers of tliat article in New Zealand will not neea to again enter into contract* with German firms, as there is every prospect of an expanding trade being done with Britain. Birmingham, it is stated, baa worked up an extensive trade in articles made from casein. Tho casein Mi chemically treated and solidified, and ijaucs from the factory in sheets and rod* of varying thickness. The development of the British dye industry has made it possible to impart a rich diversity of colors to the material, and as the manufacturers have mastered the secret of polishing it to a fine gleaming surface, its adaptability for conversion into nicknacks is unlimited. The manufacturers i have overcome all the technical difficulties, and are now sending out in large quantities a great variety of articles made from casein. It is also being need tor carriage and motor car fittings, and is said to he proving very useful as an insulator in aeroplane construction. The goods Birmingham is making are claimed to be superior to anything Germany ever produced, and it took the manufacturers only two years to make casein a business proposition. With respect to moat, the British Government Meat Committee is considering ways and means of !ncreasi;;» the imports of meat from Australasia, and good results from the efforts of this committee may be expected. The principal, if not the only, menace to the meat trade is the great American Beef Trust. It has spread its tentacles over Britain, and is quietly doing the name in Australasia. Apart from this, we must expect to meet keen competition from South America, and perhaps from South Africa also. During the war frozen meat (including meat from New Zealand) was used in Franco and Italy, and some frozen lamb was sold in New York. It is the opinion of some that there will be a permanent demand for frozen meat from the Continent of Europe; but some of the leading meat nrins arc inclined to believe that the prices will debar the French and other mpoverished Continental nations from largely increasing the consumption. However, there is no doubt that New Zealand can make sure of a good market lor all the meat that can be shipped Jhe question is rather one of increased production.

With respect to wpol, there is every reason to believe that the market will re!iia„i factorable for manv years. The population needing wool *is increasing far more rapidly than the flocks; indeed it is a question whether the. sheep in the world have not materially decreased during the past live years. Prices may not he ns high as they are to-dav, but thev will certainly be at a profitable level for Khcepmen who know their bminess. The wool clip for the year which will clow at the end of the current month is valued at £12,000,000