BUTTER A LUXURY.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 December 1920, Page 6

BUTTER A LUXURY.

CONDITIONS IN BRITAIN. USE OF MARGARINE. POPULAR DEMAND FOR CHEESE. A striking result of the rationing system in Britain lias been the diversion of consumption from butter to margarine. In 1914, the consumption of margarine was about 3000 tons a week, of which half the supply was drawn from Holland. By 1917, British manufacturers were'able to supply the entire margarine requirements of the country, which had increased to 5000 tons a week. The consumption has now increased to about 7000 tons a week, of which between 750 and 1000 tons only are imported. Notwithstanding the enormously increased demand for margarine, brought about by the shortage of butter, prices for margarine have not advanced to the same extent as those for butter. Before the wan- margarine was selling at (id to Is retail, while prices now range between Is and 2s per lb. Reviewing the dairy produce trade for the year ended June 30, in a report dated October 5, Messrs. W. Weddel and Company state that the continuance of control has brought no relief from the acute shortage of butter. "Five years of scanty rations a\id indifferent quality have driven people to accept substitutes; and the demand for high-class margarine has now become a permanent feature of the provision trade. It is feared in some quarters that the United Kingdom has lost its pre-war supremacy among buyers in the producing markets of Denmark, Argentina and New Zealand, and that in future this country will have to enter into keen competition' l with North America and the Continent for supplies' from overseas countries, which this market practically monopolised before the advent of control .... Time and again when supplies were available in foreign countries, the Government has refused to .purchase at the world's prices demanded by shippers, and these supplies have been forced into other At the same time, traders have been forbidden to import butter from any foreign source. Prices are thus kept down artificially; but so also is the supply."

MICROSCOPIC RATIONS. The report states that to many people, it has become a matter of indiJlercnce whether or not they receive the microscopic ration of butter. 'Jney are compelled to use margarine to supply the greater part of their requirements, and find it is not worth while to trouble, shout obtaining dear, and often indill'erent, butter for the balance. Margarine now represents 75 per cent of "the . country's consumption of edible fats, •"• and is obtainable in Mtllieient quanti- ■ ties, of satisfactory quality, and at reuIsonable prices. Butter is now a luxury. The following estimate is given of the consumption of butter and margarine in 1914-15, and 1919-20: 1914-15 1919-2 C Tons. Ton-;. - Butter ; Home supply ......... 50,000 50,000 Imported 190,000 SO.OOiI Total butter 240,000 ]3O.(W;i Margarine. , . j Home supply 115,000 320.000 Imported 82.000 40,00; > Total margarine ... 197,000 300,000 Both foods ......... 437.000 490.000 I These figures not only sho-.- the. extent to which margarine has replaced butter, but also the actual consumption of the two commoditiea ha» increased,

LARGE CONSUMPTION OP CHEESE. The consumptive demand for cheese during the whole year was excellent. From all quarters there were reports of a phenomenal counter trade. In addition to its relative cheapness, the excellent quality of the -great bulk of the Government imports lias strengthened tin; demand for cheese. New Zealand cheese, especially, has, as a rule, reached the consumer in -prime condition. Government coutrol has (Rue a great deal of damage to the butter trade, but it is some consolation In know that the cheese trade is likely to be-handed back to the private trader in relatively better shape than formerly.