WELLINGTON NOTES

Hokitika Guardian, 30 January 1925, Page 4

WELLINGTON NOTES

WELLINGTON’S WINTER SHOW. (Special to “Guardi",n”.) WELLINGTON, January 28. The show held in Wellington last winter, and the first show held in the city for many years proved a very great pucccss, notwithstanding that the ex--slibits were housed under three different roof's. Encouraged hv this success a show association was formed and the was taken up l>v business men who have in the interval held regular meetings and perfected plans for this year’s show. His Excellency the Gov-ernor-General has accepted the position of patron, and has expressed his willingness to open the exhibition which is to be opened on July !) and Closed on July 23, Last year there were three sections to the Exhibition and ns already stated differently housed: this year all the exhibits will be under one roof, the Wellington llaibour Hoard having granted its extensive concrete store for the purpose. The floor will he largo enough to enable all exhibits to be fully displayed and the only objection one can advance against the site is that it is located on the wharf, and if a southerly gale should blow during the exhibition it will be inconvenient for patrons. However that is one of the risks that must be accepted as Wellington does not possess another building anywhere else that would serve the purpose. Communications have been sent to all the districts around Wellington with a view to each furnishing a district court, and if this idea is properly canvassed it should prove one of the attractions of the show. The general plan of the show has been completed and exhibitors will soon he able to apply for space. The mistakes of the past will not he repeated tins year, and as the various committees are working with

great enthusiasm the show is certain to prove a financial success, more es•peeiallv if the weather is favourable. THE BUTTER MARKET. When the butter market began to slump a good many people who do not usually speculate in the commodity seemed anxious to cut in, several loiters are alleged to have been instructed to purchase various parcels as soon as the price drops to lolls. The time ,for this speculation has not arrived vet and may not arrive il the Dair.t Control Hoard decides upon taking absolute control of (lie marketing end of the business, in the meanwhile the Loudon wholesale price lor New /calami butter is lolls and sems to have temporarily stabilised at the price.

This is probably due to instructions to consignees to hold oil the market, thereby causing an artificial shortage ,?nd forcing up the price. .The Now Zealand Producers* Co-operative Alaiketing Association is of opinion that the market will not improve at prevent owing to very largo arrivals Irom New Zealand. Australia and Argentine during the next few months. This is Probably a correct view of the position and if the'price dues not go below 156 s producers will have no cause for complaint, even if I AOs is scored that would still he a profitable price for producers. There are some interested in the trade who think prices cannot go lower, and are ol opinion that if there is any change at all during the next lew weeks it will he in .favour of producers, that is that prices will improve. However it is pretty certain that if prices fall to 150 s speculators will step in and purchase considerable lots for a turnover at a profit. If this should happen the withdrawal of such purchases Irom the market must force up prices. Should the Dairy Control Hoard decide upon slopping all f.o.b. sales, and insist upon all exports being consigned to selected consignees what would he the efiect in a falling market:-' True the consignees could 1.0 instructed to liold tint

while the luiUlinjs is taking place other but tors " ill improve in viilue Mini soe--1.1 re 11"' market. To-day Ar:i!i->n butler is Ills lower and Argentine 1 2s lower than New Zealand. ll New Zealand butter is held rdf the market Australian and Argentine butters must vise, heeau.se there will be a Greater demand for them and the prices must necessarily advance. Such butlers would pass into consumption while New Zealand butler was being held in cold store. WELLINGTON'S MILK SUPPLY. Ever since the City Council ventured into the milk business it has been contending with troubles of one kind and another. At the outset colossal blunders Mere made because men who knew nothing of the ramifications and difß'(•ultics of the business undertook to supply the city with milk. They would never have been so venturesome or so (confident of success had they been fmniicing the venture themselves, hut they had the City purse to draw upon, and no one worries about what is lost out of that. It can he refilled by borrowing. The “ nearby ” farmers, that is the small dairy farmers on the outskirts of the city and the milk department of the City Council have been at daggers drawn for some time past, with intervals of pntched-up peace. Trouble between these parties has developed once more, and the dairymen have taken their grievance to the Minister of Agriculture who says ho cannot intervene, but at the same time utters a threat, “ I think the time will tome when drastic measures will lone to be taken to deal uith the whole situation.” The nearby farmers want the .City Council to take the whole af the milk they are able to supply as was agreed in 1922. The City Council has notified these farmers that from next week, they will take an agreed quantity while the farmers will only he allowed to distribute a maximum ot thirty gallons a day. This decision means limitation of production, according to one of the farmers. However the people want the fresh milk of the nearby farmers ns it is not everyone who can drink the pasteurised and 48-hour-old milk supplied by the corporation.