Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1921-03-01
New Zealand Cheese.

New Zsalsnd butter. The cheese con
tract did not continue beyond its termi
mating date, July 81, 1920. The matter
Of the disposal of New Zealand dairy
produce may not at first appear to pos
sess any interest for American readers
but when Ii is stated that the United
States is looked at from this end as 9
possible outlet for considerable ship
ments of butter for the winter trade
even as Western Canada already is, 1t Ii
likely that American producers will
hear further from New Zealand in due
time. Ever since November, 1915, the
Imperial government has been sole pur,
chaser of cheese made In this country,
except such as WAS required for Local
consumption. That, it may be stated in
passing, was not made very much OF,
inasmuch a. the people Of New Zealand
are not large eaters of cheese. The price
at which the Imperial government has
bought this seasons butter is 2S0 shil-
lings per 112 pounds, equal to 80 cents
per pound, converting one pound ster-
ling into 81, about the present rate Of
exchange. This is (. o. b. New Zealand
ports. The contract runs until March
31st, 1921. There we're sales made to
Western Canada, before the negotia
tions with the Imperial government, of
about 2, 500 tons of the current seasons
make, spread over shipments. These
sales the Imperial government has
agreed shall 60 through.
The Dominion government has been
all along placed in q rather invidious
position With respect to these sales to
the Imperial government In that Ii acted
as its agent and also as the channel OF
communication between the vendors
and their one Imperial customer. 1t
has also had to take into account the
New Zealand consumer with respect to
the supply and price Of butter. The
last has been q very thorny path 10 tread
and the end of 1t is not yet in sight
The prime minister of the Dominion has
been the go-betweep, and very arduous
and thsnkless task he and ministers who
have acted for him when he was in
England from time to time have had.
The necessity of securing cheese for
the British army during the war was
the reason for the purchases made in
this country by the British government.
At first, November, 1915, about one,
third of the quantity usually exported
was purchased. The offer was IS cents
per pound. This was refused and sale
was made at IA 2 cents after much cor
respondepce. Successive advances made
10 the price from time to time were as
follows: Whole exportable surplus,
19l8-l917, 10 cents; 19l7-191S, 20 cents;
l9lS-1919, 81 1-2 cents. The price Is for
first grade cheese only on government
graders notes; other grades we're lower
10 price. The prices were for {. o. b.
ocean steamer, the Imperial government
assuming all responsibility for storage
after IA days, also for insurance marine,
war risk, and fire) and paying all freight
and any other charges. The total guam
tity purchased was approximately 2l0,.
900 long tons and the price paid equal
to S105, ATS, 900.
There was intense dissatisfaction here
when Ii was learned that, after taking
into account all New Zsaland's dissd
vantsges Of geographical character by
reason of remoteness from Great Britain,
Canadian producers were receiving 80
much higher returns for their cheese.
This led to much protesting here and
resulted in advances made In the prices
every season. Then more resentment
was created by the fact that, when the
war ended, British dairy farmers had
free markets In Great Britain for all the
cheese and butter they produced and
sent in for sale. However, the purchase
of cheese came to an end so far as New
Zealand was concerned aud producers
were free from the S1st of July to mar
ket as they thought best. Sales have
been made to the United Kingdom Of
IL, 900 long tons of this seasons make,
and 1000 tons will 60 on consignment,
an additional 1000 tons will be market
ed through new company, the director
ate of which will consist of an equal
number of representatives of the Co.
operative Wholesale Society of England
which has an enormous distribution in
the manufacturing districts OF England
Prices are to be fixed by a board COM
posed of the above, but In the fxstion
the farmers representatives shall have
a prepOndersting vote. The prices real
ICED by factories which have sold their
output for the current season are be-
tween 2S cents and 20 S-4 cents. The
higher prices we're paid more recently.
II is the custom of South Island factories
to sell, that of the North Island facto-
ries to consign through well.kpown Brit
ish houses. The cheese future is faced
with the fullest confidence by producers
here. There 10 q growing feeling that
it is only matter Of time when the
United States will be able to take fair
parcels of New Zealand cheese. The
inevitable advance in the price Of butter
for domestic consumption to bring 1t
into parity with its export value (the
price to be paid by the Imperial govern
men) has caused much commotion
locally and considerable discrimination
on the part of both town and country
people. Some hard things have beer
said aud written on both sides.-George
Osborne.