THE POSITION OF BUTTER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1547, 6 May 1916, Page 2

THE POSITION OF BUTTER.

WILL THERE BE A FURTHER RISE ?

Butter in cool store at 30th April last amounted to 92,297 boxes, as against 59,798 boxes at the corresponding date of last year. This leaves a balance of 42,499 boxes more than was in store at this time last year, so that there would appear to be a substantial surplus for export over local requirements. At the same time, in consequence of the high ruling prices in London and the present demand for shipments at a price in the neighbourhood of Is 3;{d to Is 4d per pound on board the steamer at Wellington, factory directors are said to lie getting restive at the prices obtained for their batter in Wellington, prices, in their judgment, being well below what the London market warrants. In these circumstances it is believed that a rise in the price of butter wholesale is pending, which will, of course, bo passed on to the consumer should the advance be made. If it is made it is understood that no butler will be allowed to be exported except under permit from the Government through the Customs ; and should it he necessary a total prohibition of export may be exercised with the object, it is presumed, of keeping butler at a reasonable price to the consumer and anticipating any over-depletion of supplies in store and to be made by shipping large quantities of butter out of the country on consignment, i.e., to take its chance in the British market, which, however, is at a very high price at the moment, and for which buyers are still prepared to purchase it for export to London.