SHORTAGE OP BUTTER

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 2456, 8 May 1915, Page 7

SHORTAGE OP BUTTER

EXPORT TO BE STOPPED

FOOD COMMISSIONER'S

REPORT

The Food Commission is of opinion that -there will be a shortage of butter in New Zealand if further exportation to any considerable extent are allowed. The report of the Commission was handed to the Prime Minister (the Right Hon. W. F. Massey) yesterday afternoon, and Mr. Massey later supplied a statement to a Dominion reporter covering the report. Paragraph 2 states that while the present stocks, with the quantity which is likely to be produced in the next two months, will be sufficient for the requirements of New Zealand, there will -bo a shortage if further exportation, to any extent, are allowed. The extent of this shortage will depend upon (a) the diminished consumption owing to the high price of the commodity, and (b) the extent to which production may be stimulated for the same reason. commission's Finding. The Commission is of opinion that further exportation to Australia should for the present be prohibited, except with the consent of the Government, and that such consent should be withheld unless the Government is satisfied that sufficient butter for the normal requirements of the Dominion is retained in the country; in other tfords, that only surplus should be allowed to be exported. The report further states: "The Commission understands from Mr. Cuddy, the Government dairy expert, that the available surplus will be ascertained from week-to week with a reasonable .degree of accuracy." "That the butter at present in stock is largely held by dairy factories, and there does not appear to be any indication of 'cornering' the market," is •the ooncluding paragraph of 'the report. The Proclamation. Mr. Massey stated that the Proclamation issued during the week, prohibiting the export of butter without the consent of the Minister of Customs, gives the Government power to carry into effect the Commission's report, and the Government will retain control of the export of butter for the winter months,_ and will endeavour to see that a sufficient amount is retained in the Dominion for our requirements, to bo supplied at a reasonable price as compared with.that in other countries. He added that information had reached him ■ that a shipment of 6000 or 7000 hoses of butter was being sent back from England to New Zealand, the ■companies evidently thinking that it would pay them better to send -- back. The real cause of the shortage is the scarcity in Australia, and the high prices ruling there, coupled with the fact that many companies hero wero making cheese now\ instead of butter, as it paid- them better. The Imperial , Government was asking for far more cheese for the use of the troops' than New Zealand could supply. No Evidence of Exploitation. "The President of the Commission informed me," stated Mr. Massey, "that they advertised for evidence with regard to alleged exploitation, but no evidence had been forthcoming on the subject in Wellington." Mr. Massey has directed Mr. Cuddy to report to him to-day as to the quantity of butter in store at present, and the probable production for the next two months. The Commission sits in Christehurch to-day, and is going to look more particularly into the price of wheat and flour.