PRICE OF BUTTER

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 160, 2 April 1921, Page 8

PRICE OF BUTTER

SOME PREMATURE ANNOUNCEMENTS

OLD RATE STILL STANDS

RETAIL PRICE UNDER DISCUSSION 'The retail price of butter, despite the various nnnoum-einents that have been made, is not yet fixed. The matter was under discussion yesterday between Government officers and representatives of Hie dairying industries, and it probably will be referred Io another eonfcrence of dairy representatives to be held in Auckland next week.

The following official statement was issued last night:— “AVith reference Io the Auckland telegram published to-day, stilting that: grocers were charging 2s. Sd. per lb. tor butter, the Board of Trade has taken up the matter, as Hie margin of profit is far greater than was the rase previously. It is stated (hat Wellington grocers are also notifying a similar increase in price, and this is being also gone into at once, seeing that the- creamery butter made after March 31 has yet come into Consumption in Ute city. Jhe Director of Agriculture states that the position created by these unduly high retail prices, together with other developments lias necessitated further consideration of the whole matter of butter prices, mid has been the subject of discussion between the Government Departments concerned and those representatives of the dairy interests who are available in AA’ellington to-day. . It was thought that the matter, could have been settled at once, but circumstances have arisen unexpectedly which make this impossible, and it is nowanticipated that further consideration between the representatives of- the jiroducers and the Department will be necessary This will probably mean a delay of some days before the matter can he definitely settled. Tn the meantime the mice will be ri. Hid. ex factory door and 3d over the counter for cash. Jo enable this to be done n. Government subsidy of 3d. per lb. will be paid on all butter sold-complying with these conditions and for immediate sale. It is honed that a further and final announcemer.'- will he-made before the end of next week.”

WELLINGTON GROCERS' DECISION

2s. 7d. QUOTED AS CASH THRICE. Mr H. D. Bennett (.president: of the AVellington Master Grocers’ Association) told a Dominion reporter that in tho South Island some one had evident]} Resumed to dictate terms to the grocers naming Hie retail price of biittd W Gd. per lb. In the meantime the Auckland grocers had met and fixed on .( tab ot IM r«r «”'■ S 'ri sales, and 15 per cent, on booked, not knowiim what the .cost was going to be. Taking the cost as 2s. 4d Hie prices in Auckland would he 2s. Sd. and -s. if these percentages of profit wer charged. The executive of the Master Grocers' Association of Wellington was acting nslhe executive for the Mas er Grocers’ Federation of New Zealand, and at a- meeting held on Thursday it had iLutcA that l> Auckland were too high, and that the trade would be content with 2s. 7d. afid 2s. 8(1.. assuming that the cost was 2s. 4d. This demsion nd been communicated to ”, o ,. ers ’ ns.-ociations throughout New Zealand, and no douht it would he ultimately adopted for the whole count v. 'l’l.n executive considered that Jci. Pf 11-J was as much as it could ask for in fho ci re inns'.! . . (he present priees-are exhausted, replied-

PRICES IN LONDON

RED U CTIONS A NNOUNCED. London, March 31. The Food Ministry has reduced the selling price of its stocks of butter for a . fortnight as from to-moirow. I i ces will be a-s follow;—New Zealand first and second grades, 2625. per ewri; Australian first and second grade-'', • - gentine, 2405.; Australian thud giade -1.. . It is expected that plenty of good buuter trill bo retailing at 2s 3d Io 2s. bd. per pound.-Ans.-N.Z. Cable Assn.