THE PRICE OF BUTTER

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 13 May 1915, Page 2

THE PRICE OF BUTTER

THE drought in Australia is responsible for a big shortage in butter, which went up with a bound in Brisbane and Melbourne last week, and is now retailing at 2s per lb in both centres. Further rises are expected locally but the steps the Government is taking to prevent Australian merchants filling their export orders in New Zealand, and to allow the export ot butter only under permit from the Minister for Customs, should act as a wholesome check upon high prices in the near future. It has been contended that the Government should take over all available supplies, but it could hardly do that without paying the producer the current wholesale rate, i.e. Is 4d per lb, and then it would be at the cost of collecting and distributing the supplies; which, probably, would cost another 2d per lb. If its action led the producer to feel that he was placed at a disadvantage, it would not take long for him to decide that he would go in for cheese-making instead ; as the British Government will take all the cheese we can produce. If he took it into his head to do that, with cheese at 94s per cwt. wholesale, he would be receiving the equivalent of Is 6d per lb for butter, and, knowing that, he would not think twice about changing the character of his milk product. This is an aspect of the business that has not escaped the notice of the Prime Minister, who has, however, asked the Foodstuffs Commission to investigate the propriety of the increased rates the local consumer is paying for butter. —Wellington 'Newsletter.'