MARKETS FOR BUTTER.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 September 1922, Page 5

MARKETS FOR BUTTER.

FRENCH BUYERS ACTIVE. DIRECT SHIPMENTS WANTED. t NEGOTIATIONS IN PROGRESS. An expanding market for New Zealand butter is promised in France. The production of butter in that country in recent years has considerably diminished, partly owing to the depletion of the herds during the war period and partly because of the extensive manufacture of soft cheeses. The country is also consuming much more butter than it did previous to the war, the acquisition of Alsace and Lorraine having included tvw provinces whifeh are large consumers, but produce no better. During the last few seasons New Zealand butter has been placed on the Paris market through London, but effort are now being made to establish a trade in New Zealand butter with France direct. The representative of a firm of Paris brokers, M. Roger Barthelemy, who arrived by the Makura on Monday, discussed the possibilities of a direct butter trade with France with an Auckland Herald representative. Up till fipw, he said, all tha butter sold in Paris came from London, but by direct shipment the New Zealand producers could save from 15s to £1 per cwt. As indicating the extent to which New Zealand butter was being used in France, M. Barthelemy said that in threo months last season his firm had sold 30,000 boxes. The demand for the butter had induced his firm to endeavor to open up a direct trade with New Zealand and Australia. He had already visited the Commonwealth and arranged for two vessels a month from Australia to call at Dunkirk, which was the special butter port of Northern France. He expected to make similar arrangements for a direct service between New Zealand and Dunkirk. Such a service, he said, would result in the NewZealand commodity reaching Paris the day after it was unloaded. The port of Dunkirk was equipped with the most up-to-' date facilities for the handling of produce, and special train arrangements ensured tha prompt delivery of the goods at Paris. At both Dunkirk and Paris there was ample cold storage accommodation for all cla&eg of foodstuffs. Referring to the market prospects for the coming season, M. Barthelemy said he had seen it stated that butter prices in London were expected to decline after Christmas. The period of greatest demand for butter in Paris, he said, was from December to the end of March, prices increasing each month, the peak being reached in March. In view of the expected congestion in the London market after Christmas, he considered any opportunity of shipping to France should be worthy of consideration by the producers. M. Barthelemy added that the French people required unsalted butter, and any business that his firm undertook would be on the consignment basis, the regulations governing firms of brokers such he represented not permitting them to buy for speculation. M. Barthelemy expects to complete his arrangements in the Dominion in regard to the shipping service and the consignment of butter within the next two months.