Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established 1874.] FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1895. THE DANISH METHOD.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 4946, 8 February 1895, Page 2

Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established 1874.] FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1895. THE DANISH METHOD.

"The Danes are soiling butter at "any price, being determined to "oust the Australian aiticle from " the market, and are making " preparations tor a long struggle." So runs the latest cablegram respecting the butter trade. This is an eloquent tribute to the industrious perseverance of the butler milkers of the Colonics, for it bears on the face of it, the testimony that butter from Australasia, is competing successfully with the Danish article. Finest quality lnitter from the Colonies commands as high a price, if not higher, than Danish butter, and while expansion is only possible to a very limited extent in Denmark, tlio butter industry is in its infancy in the Colonies, and the scope for increasing the output isalraost without limit. Colonial butter is now firmly established in the London market, and the provincial centres also, are being carefully and successfully worked. The present season has been a favourable one for the Colonies, and events havo proved propitious for bringing the Australasian product before the consumers, The market lias been well stocked throughout the season; fnutof all, there was a considerable " carryover " stock, while the imports have been considerably in excess of the previous season. There has been a glut in the market, and prices have consequently ruled comparatively lower. The Copenhagen Committee mado an ill-advised attempt to slop competitive and direct dealings, nnd so opened the gato to Australasia, with what result, the latest cable message clearly informs. Colonial butter is taking the place of Danish, and it is to recover their position, that tlio Danes have declared war.

If we are to be brought into a "cut-throat" competition with so formidable an opponent, it bocomes our imperative duty to seo that we do not lose ground through carelessness or inattention to details. Whatever the severity of the compotihv',n . mti y be we mnst nofc sacrifice quaJ'ty ol ' 6a ' ce cheapness, Quality n: ust maintained at all risk, and ivb mu ?' OUI ' weapons in cheaper charges, adequate cold storage aocomn'odation, and an increased output. 'ii le experiment tried witb the bufe flipped per Tongariro, which arrived Iji London on tiie 13th December last, Biflstfjot be repeated. A portion of the shipped in this steamer was greatly .damaged, owing to its being packed

in boxes made of greon wood, the butter wag virtually unsaleable, and tlio whole shipment was prejudiced. It is necessary while the Butter Battlo rages to have our interests closely watched in London, and the provinces. There was a time when the Colony employed a Mr Lowe, as Produce Commissioner, and his invaluable services were paid for at the rate of £ 100 per annum ; lie was displaced to give an opening to Mr Valentine and this dairy expert, whose reports were made up largely of extracts from official documents and publications, and who has cost New Zealand a tidy sum, threw up his post and endeavoured to lloat a gigantic produce company, but failed, fho vacancy thus occasioned has not been filled, but Mr Valentino has been tendering advice unofficially This is most unsatisfactory, and not calculated to advance the interests of the Colony, At the present juncture wo need an expert with a thorough knowledge of the markets, and a dash of vigour sufficient to keep liini on the alert, If the Danes mean business they can give our farmers a stiff light, for they arc a frugal, industrious people, tiny conduct their factories on highly scientific lines, and are not harassed by factory acts and labour legislation. A lower price for butter in England means a smaller return to the niillc suppliers in the Colonies and that is the prospect looming largely in the near future.