BUTTER SUPPLIES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 311, 25 September 1920, Page 6

BUTTER SUPPLIES

LAST SEASON'S STOCKS ALMOST EXHAUSTED THE QUESTION OF PRICE In order lo avoid any shortage of local supplies of butter such as occurred last year, the Government took steps to retain in the country an amply, sufficient quantity to fill local requirements until tho new season's butter became available. Owing to the open and mild autumn a greater quantity was manufactured prior to the end of July tlmn had been anticipated, consequently tho Government stocks have held out until tho present time. Very little of last Benson's butter is now left in store and the new season's make will have to ba drawn upon as from October 1. The price at which the new season's butter is to be placed upon the market has yet to bo arranged but this will ba fixed in a few days. In any case, owing to tho greatly increased export value and tho increased cost of production, the selling price will be necessarily higher, than that fixed for butter of last season's make. In issuing supplies from store to wholesalers and through them to retailors, every effort is being made by the Board of Trade to prevent any one trading firm or individual securing larßer | stocks than would be required for selling purposes up to the end of the present month, but it is impossible to do' this in so exact a manner a 9 to ensure that tlie 'supplies of all last season's butter from Government stocks will be entirely used up by the end of this mouth., In addition, a considerable nuantitv of butter was held in private ownership by traders who had made a regular business of supplying local requirements, and somo of this still remains. It is necessary to make it clear that when a rise in price takes, place about the beginning of October -this rise will only apply to butter mado since August 1, and that all butter manufactured prior to that date must still lie sold within the maximum drices fixed by the Gazette notice of June 17, viz., Is. 53d. ex freezing store, ex factory, or f.o.b. coastal ports, and Is. 9d. retail. , Tho Department of Industries and Commerce is taking a census of all stocks held by individuals, and steps _ will bo I taken to ensure that none of this last season's butter ehall lie sold to the public at prices higher than thoso abovenamed. It is announced that any infringement of the terms of the Gazette notice will be severely dealt with.