WELLINGTON NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 January 1925, Page 4

WELLINGTON NOTES.

TilE lU.TTER .MARKET. (Special to “Guardi"n”.) WKILLINGTOX. Jn mary 12. Wholesale merchants and distributors expected that the prices of blitter would recede, hut few. if any, 'expected such a sudden collapse as lias taken place. Since the end o‘f December, or to lie more precise,, in the course of about nine or ton days, there has been a lull of about Ills ]>er cut. Exporters cannot give any further explanation of the* position than that cabled I rom London. Supplies are in excess of requirements, and if the estimate of supplies to arrive duri'.Vg the next six weeks' amounts Yeaily to a thousand tons per Wdok more than the consumptive. requirements of Britain then prices must fall further, The statistical position is apparently anal list high prices, hut it is just possible that the trade is taking a gloomy view ol the situation. Reduced fee Ail prices should stimulate eoVisuluption. but an excess of a thoVisahd tons weekly cannot he easily cleared. Tile forecast gees further and indicates that for the next three or four months supplies will he heavy and later Siberia is expected to semi' in heavy consignments and Canada also is likely to increase her shipments. dust at what point prices will .stabilise it is difficult to say. hut the sooner this is reached the better so that producers may work down tliei'r costs to meet the changed position. Til the meanwhile there is no reason why local consumption should not he stimulated, indeed it is hound to increase a.s the price is reduced. Already there has been a reduction of a penny per lb in Wellington, for which householders will he very thankful. The suddenness of the collapse is the worst feature for hurried adjustments must lie made.' which are hound to inconvenience the factories, ft is stated here that advancers against consignments range at about 1 -lOs per ewt. f.o.b. and with freight and other charges this means 100 s per ewt. With the London price at IGls there is not much margin and it is obvious that advances must be reduced by a penny or two ponce per lb. This drop in butter takes the gilt off the ginger-bread'. INFANT ILK PARALYSIS.

Tt is doubtful whether the authorities have got this infectious disease under control for the disease appears to have spread from Wellington to other parts of the country. Instead of drastic action having been taken- when the disease first made its appearance and so preventing its spread that action is being taken now. Wo were told that there was no oo; union for alaim, that every precaution was being taken, but the children were allowed to congregate and so the infection was spread. Barents and guardians have been, urged to take steps to prevent children going to places where there may he a number of other children, such a.s schools, picture- theatres etc., and to avoid travelling in closed vehicles as much as possible and now such Sunday schools that have reopened arc to he dr oil. There does not seem to he much use urging parents to do this, that and the other for the children continue to congregate and theie .lie parents who will take risks. HOUSE SHORTAGE. According to All* Al'Keen. Al.l . foi Wellington South, the house shortage in Wellington is as acute as ever. According to this authority there was a growing tendency among tenants lo sub-let single rooms to assist them in paving l heir own i-ciU-L. Ibis ceil i,rises from the increasing rentals being demanded lor homes. Ihe I'ciduls appear extortionate, lull when one takes account of the cost ol building the teiitals arc not really excessive. There is tilth- or no speculation building going on because there is too much risk in the business. The rent restriction regulations killed speculation, and the high cost of buildings and se-lions is .V-*- ii. ill The ,|,biv in d.-iliic- wi'b a'lpfi'aluim. I»r Govriiiiionl loans ccausing inconvenience to many people who hoped to secure homes of their own, and there was a great deal ol dissatisfaction. A big rudi. was made on the State Advances Office for loans under the- provision enabling workers to obtain loans up to 95 per cent of the value of the property. Many of these applications were lodged eighteen months ago arid still there is no indication that they have been dealt with. The fact- that people are being held up in this way is to some extent responsible for the increasingly had state of affairs. Many cases of hardship can he cited, and representations are to he made to the -Prime Minister, but it is difficult to see what Air Massey can do. Air Massey has already plunged the. country into loans aggregating £7.125CfM) this year, besides taking £1.900,000 of surplus for public works and he will not he anxious to do any more borrowing before April. The housing problem is "economic and not- political, hut .the politician wants to he in it.