BUTTER PRICES

Hokitika Guardian, 8 October 1931, Page 6

BUTTER PRICES

POSITION IN AUCKLAND. REDUCTION BY WHOLESALERS CONDEMNED. m AUCKLAND, OctojH.T (i Despite the fact that London values for Isew Zealand butter and cheese have recently shown a consider iole increase, a reduction of jd per lb .n ibe wholesale price of all three grades of butter is announced in Auckland. A circular issued bv the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company, Ltd, states that the wholesale prices, will bo: Superfine and first grade, Is Id per lb; second grade, Is subject to the usual discount of ji-d per lb for cash Retail prices for the grades are at present Is 3d for first two grades and Is ‘id for second grade. No decision has yet been made by the retail tiade as to whether a reduction in prices to the public will be made. In commenting on the position none of the representative members ot the trade, either productive, wholesale or retail, desired to have liis name mentioned, and some uncertainty appeared to exist as to the causes of the present trend. Definite condemnation of the reduction in local prices whilst the London market was rising came from a prominent wholesaler and the representative of a large purchasing organisation. The wholesaler said that, in his opinion the action- of the New Zealand Dairy Company was utterly unwarranted and imposed a grave and cpiitc unjustified handicap on the dairy fanner. The other opinion was equally definite, the gentleman interviewed remarking that the biggest problem before the Government to-day was to keep the daily farmer on the land. Therefore, it was somewhat difficult to understand wh} his produce should lie allowed to be sold in the country where it was produced at a lower price than it commanded on the other side of the world after the payment of freightage and nil incidental dues.

“Mr firm sold 3500 boxes of butter that went to London in the Remuera last Wednesday,” lie said, “and we received a cheque immediately the butter was shipped. I cannot undetstard why such an anomalous position should be allowed to exist.