H.—29a.

22

Exports. Of the total quantity of butter and cheese exported during the year under review, by far the major portion was shipped direct to the United Kingdom. Forty-three vessels were engaged in carrying this produce to the Home markets. The total quantity of butter exported for the year was 396,419 cwt., a decrease of 7,425 cwt., or P8 per cent., over that of the preceding period. This may be accounted for owing to the quantities held in cold stores throughout the Dominion at the end of the year being very much greater than on the same date of last year. The value of the butter, however (based on London prices), shows an increase of £449,118, owing to the very much higher prices ruling. Cheese exports show an increase of 90,141 cwt., or 11"9 per cent., over the figures for the previous year. Values were also considerably advanced for cheese, the increase (taking London prices) amounting to £887,567. Butter and cheese thus show a combined increase in value of £1,336,685. The following tables show the classes and quantities of dairy-produce exported during the year from the various grading-ports and the London market values of the produce : —

Exports for Year ended 31st March, 1916. Creamery Butter for United Kingdom.

Whey Butter for United Kingdom.

Dairy Butter for United Kingdom.

Milled Butter for United Kingdom.

Port. Total Packages. First Grade. Second Grade. Third Grade. Auckland New Plymouth Wanganui Patea Gisborne Wellington. Lyttelton and Timaru. .. Dunedin 416,537 118,629 8,397 4.058 6,943 126,195 9,396 6,189 402,456 117,238 7,825 3,598 6,943 123,096 9,361 6,094 13,965 I ,372 572 413 116 19 47 3,050 35 95 49 Totals . . 696,344 676,611 19,502 231

Port. Total Packages. First Grade. Second Grade. Third Grade. I .uckland few Plymouth Vanganui 'atca Wellington hmedin 2.203 4,397 61 7,514 2,329 321 864 2,584 31 4,718 456 265 1.339 1,813 30 2,660 1 ,873 56 136 Totals .. 16,825 8,918 7,771 136

Port. Total Packages. First Grade. Second Grade, j Third Grade. I ew Plymouth Wellington Totals .. 1,164 877 12 10 1,176 887 281 6 10 2 291 8

Port. Total Packages. First Grade. Second Grade. Third Grade. .uckland few Plymouth Wanganui Wellington ■unedin Totals . . 716 138 311 1,269 776 3,210 230 114 278 953 756 439 21 33 316 20 47 3 2,33.1 829 50