The South African Buffer Trade. 



27 



THE SOUTH AFRICAN BUTTER TRADE. 



Bij J. Kirk Runfer. 



Increasing Competition. 



This trade is one of such magnitude that every couutry that can hiv 

 any claim whatever to the production of butter is making an endeavour 

 to secure a footing in the market, and it is a somewhat striking- 

 illustration of the trend of the trade that the two countries, Argentina and 

 Canada whose butter is mostly spoken of here at present, do not appear 

 in the list of countries whence butter was imported during 1901. The 

 unfortunate drought, which has existed in Australia, provided them 

 with an easy opportunity of establishing themselves in the market, cif 

 which they have not been slow to make the most. The Argentine 

 exporters particularly have been most energetic. They have established 

 agencies, and suceeded in securing a considerable amount of business. 



The following are the imports for 1901, from which it will be seen 

 that Victoria's contribution is more than half the total, and the supply 

 fi'om the Commonwealth exceeds two-thirds : — • 



I have endeavoured to obtain the statistics of imports for 1902, but 

 the Customs staff is so busy preparing the annual returns for tlie 

 Government that they cannot possibly let me have them for three or 

 four weeks. 



One or two Australian agents that 1 have spoken to regarding 

 this trade appear to treat it somewhat lightly, and seem, to think the 

 return of good seasons, with better supplies, will mean also the return 

 of the trade that at present is going to the Argentine. That is not 

 my opinion. Argentine butter has come to stay, and its positicm in 

 the market will be strengthened by the remedying of any little defects 

 of method that may exist in the production at present. I hope, there- 

 fore, Victorian firms engaged in the trade will attach due seriousness 



