968 The Provision Trade in February, [mar., 1909. 



from the importer's or consumer's point of view. At a time when 

 trade throughout the country is dragging and there is much unemploy- 

 ment, the careful housewife, remembering the days when good cheese 

 was retailed at 6d. per lb., grudges parting with her money for this 

 article if she can obtain a cheaper substitute. As a consequence, 

 the merchant finds the demand restricted, and to do business has 

 to sacrifice any hope of clearing his stock at a profit. The reserve of 

 cheese in Canada is not large, and is held for full prices by men 

 who profess confidence in the market advancing - . The stocks in 

 Montreal are certainly less than last year, and very much less than 

 two years ago, but the make in New Zealand is reported to be good, 

 and if this is so it may upset the shrewdest calculations, although 

 the quality of some of the early arrivals is said to be not entirely 

 satisfactory. 



Of course, February is recognised as being a slow month for the 

 wholesale trade, but this year it has been exceptionally so. During 

 the last few days of January the merchants experienced a fairly good 

 demand, and the grocers seem to have enough to go on with for 

 a few weeks, but they will probably have to make purchases again 

 soon, and March may have a better tale to tell. As regards spot 

 prices of Canadian, they became a little firmer during the first week 

 of the month, since when they have dragged along with very little 

 variation. Dutch cheese has been in request, and prices have hardened, 

 but the trade in English makes has been slow and disappointing. 



Butter. — The month opened with prices steady for all selections, 

 but during the week ending February 13th Colonial butter dropped 

 fully 2s. in value, buyers operating very cautiously and simply filling 

 their immediate requirements. During the following week prices 

 dropped another 2s., with no improvement in the demand. With the 

 large arrivals from New Zealand and Australia, London agents tried 

 hard to push sales, but with little success, merchants in the country con- 

 tinuing a " hand to mouth " policy. The quality of some Australian 

 and New Zealand butter arriving has not been quite up to the standard 

 of previous years. This applies especially to Victorian, some lots of 

 which have been very irregular. Prices in United States and Canada 

 continue to rule very high, and consignments of States creameries have 

 been shipped back to New York, where they have found a ready market 

 owing to the scarcity and high price of all grades in America. 



Eggs.— There has been a good demand throughout the month, with 

 no accumulation of stocks, arrivals generally being very small. In 

 spite of this, however, prices have shown a considerable drop from the 

 end of January, when they were abnormally high. 



