BUTTER UP AGAIN

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2438, 17 April 1915, Page 8

BUTTER UP AGAIN

FURTHER INCREASE TO Is. 6d.

For the second time within a few days the retail price of butter will be increased to-day by Id. per 'lb.; and the price for best brands will be Is. 6d. per lb. The last increase to Is. sd. had the effect of reducing the demand, and second grade was 'more sought after. The demand from Australia is stated to be the cause for the increase. Yesterday the head of a wholesale butter house predicted that butter is bound to increase even boyond Is;' 6d. per lb. He stated: * 'The' public will certainly have to pay more, and in these circumKtances it ie only right to the t consumer and to the merchant that' the position should bo clearly set forth. The merchant is not responsible for the rise, nor is hp benefiting by it. The farmers and factories are, and I do not see how they are to be blamed either. I venture to state that not one of the distributors in Wellington has a box of butter of his own. The whole of the butter is held on consignment. If the Australian demand increases, ■ then butter will certainly be dearer. It has already been sold at Is. 3}d. per lb., free on board the steamer for Australia, and no doubt sales will be made, at Is. 4d. per lb. It will be a very difficult question for the factory directors to answer, whether they will keep their butter here in New Zealand for our own trade or _ whether they will export it to Australia. To keep 'butter here for the.winter market.will cost Id. per > lb. then for freezing and storage and packing for three months. ' They are getting Is. 3Jd. for Australia to-day, but they would have to get Is. 4}d. to Is. od. in New Zealand to induce them to keep the butter here for June, July, and August. We do not know what the factory dlirectors will do, whether they will take the Australian prices or hold for the local trade. ENDEAVOUR TO SHIP BACK CONSIGNMENTS. A' QUESTION OF FREIGHT. By T«leer»Dli—Press Association—Oooyrlffht London, April 15. Some colonial shippers are trying to get butter shipped hack _to Australia and New Zealand, but it' is doubtful whether it will be possible for freight to be arranged.