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Hokitika Guardian, 19 June 1917, Page 2

Tjiekk aro likely to be some complexities in regard to handling the supplies of bufiter now in cold storage, owing to tho difficulty to arrange for space for Home shipment. (Ait tilt end of last month there woro 242,464 boxes of butter in store as against 83,957 boxes at the same time last year. With this congestion the holders are beginning to realise tho necessity of utilising local markets for sale. There is less and less opportunity for export now, even though some are hopeful for an improvement in July, but there is not any guarantee of this The retail price of butter in New Zealand is Is Bd, and it stands alt that even though there is a big congestion. By contrast, in Victoria, where there is a scarcity of but/ter, the price is fixed at Is sd. A reduction now would result in losses /io holders, but lit is clear that all along the public have been paying too much lor vm» commidity. The price has been kept up by artificial means, and the mean law of supply and demand has been ignored by the combination which nuis been permitted to adjust the price without regard to local conditions. A suggestion 'is, living made ‘din some quarters to treat the over plus of butter in cold storage as second quality, and fix a' price for this article below the first grade. Here again we havo tonder consideration for the trader who has oeen trafficking with his usual cupidity for his own pro tilt, while the vast army of the public havq had to pay tne piper all the time. It cannot bo sa'id that our Board of Trade has handled this question with any regard for the masses, and this is an aspect of this ma other allied mnt.ttrs affecting the cost of living which will requre to he thrashed out on the floor of the House.