Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1914-01-08
CANADA IMPORTS BIG
QUANTITIES OF BUTTER
New Zealand Supplies Millions
Of Observation-Disclosures
Upholds Cold Storage.

Ottawa, Ont. Special: The report OF
]. A. Ruddick, dominion dairy and cold
storage commissioner, for he fiscal
year ending March 81 last, which has
Just been issued, states that during the
IL months period covered there q
been a very noticeable increase in the
attention given to dairy farming In
some parts of the prairie provinces.
The quantity OF creamery butter pro-
duced in Alberta, Saskatchewan and
Manitoba has been ouadrupled within
a few years, and in 1912 it amounted to
5000, 900 pounds, or approximately one
fourth of the creamery butter MARKET
ed west of the great lakes, including
what was imported at Vancouver from
the A~ntipodes.
The total export of butter in 1911-12
was S,S44,4 0 pounds. which was the
largest quantity exported in any year
since 1907. In 1928 the exports fell
to 828,323 pounds, and of this amount
only 6S1 pounds were sent to Great
Britain. This, says Mr.. Ruddick, Is all
the more notable in view of the fact
that the exports of the butter from
Canada to Great Britain have not been
less than 100000 pounds in n year
since 1850. The exports for the year
consisted chiefly of timed butter from
the maritime provinces to the West
Indies, and some inferior dairy butter
which went to the United States.
Imports of Butter.
The imports of butter for the year
amounted to 7,9S9,269 pounds, valued
at $2,081,9S9. In this connection the
commissioner remarked:
Naturally, the importation OF this
large amount of butter has caused con-
sions of surprise have been heard that
a great agricultural country like Can
ida should be obliged to procure sup
plies Of dairy products from other
countries. After all Is said, it is a
question of population in relation to
productive areas.
"a very large proportion of the but
ter imported into Canada consists Of
direct shipments from New Zealand to
Vancouver to supply the Pacific coast
trade, although a considerable guam
tity Of the New Zealand butter. was
past year via London. New Zealand
butter as it arrives in Canada is a
freshly made grass article, and being
carried from New Zealand to Van
couver at suitable refrigerating tenn
peratures, is naturally in good condi-
ton on arrival and makes a strong
competitor with The Canadian stored
butter"
The dairy commissioner makes an
interesting reference to the cold stor-
age and it's relation to the cost Of liv-
ing.
There is a tendency in some quar-
ters," he says, "to attribute the charge
of the increased cost Of living to the
cold storage warehouse. 1 do not think
1t is the business Of this branch to de-
fend the cold storage industry from
criticism of any kind, but it may not
be out of place to offer a few remarks
on the subject.
S1Thaf tho nrfno nf fnpd hos rfCop
during the period the cold storage has
been developed is undoubtedly true,
but the price has been advanced on
articles that never go n cold storage.
Cold storage is now a necessity to
| maintain the supply during the period
| of nonproduction.
Without the market which the cold
storage warehouse affords for the sur
] plus Of foods owe that which is re-
CURED for immediate consumption dur
ing the period In which these foods are
produced, their production would be
strictly limited to the current demands
and only for such quantities as could
be marketed at q profit.
Eggs and Cold Storage.
1.-Two very good illustrations as to
the effect. Of cold storage on prices are
furnished in the record OF the produce
market during the past six months.
Take eggs, for instance. The quantity
of eggs placed in cold storage in the
early part Of the season OF 1912 turned
put to be in excess of the quantity re-
Quired for winter consumption, partly
on account Of the mild weather, which
favored the production Of the egga
during the winter months. As 500 as
1t was realized the market was over
supplied, the price Of the eggs went 80
holders and the consumer got the bene-
| at, simply by too large q quantity
which was placed in storage, and
stored eggs must be got rid Of before
the new crop is available. On the other
hand, the quantity of butter in cold
manufacturing season Of 1912 was in
sufficient to meet the demands through
the winter months. The price natur-
flry rose until it was possible to bring
IN butter from New Zealand and pay
tne duty thereon and still max a
have been imported in he past five
months to meet the shortage in the
Canadian supply. 1t hardly requires
my argument to prove that IL there
had been AZ additional 10,0 600, 900
pounds Of butter, or more, in cold
forage in Canada last fall. the price
would have been higher than. the
Export basis, which would have been
rom 20 to "a cents per pound, where
rs the wholesale price. during last win
Ter was 81 and 80 cents per pound In
Eastern Canada. These two instances
ire sufficient answer to absurd and
exaggerated statements which are fire.
auently made as to the supposedly
enormous quantities Of the perishable
food products held in cold storage.
Such statements are made often by
men who do not take the trouble to
calculate the quantity Of the food
which Is required to feed a given num-
Of people for a stated period, but the
lbsurdity lies in the fact that the
lge the better chance there is for thu
consumer to secur his supplies at 8
reasonable cost, because, after all 1.
said, h law OF supply and demand
must rule"