EXPORT OF BUTTER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1549, 11 May 1916, Page 3

EXPORT OF BUTTER.

TO BE PROHIBITED. The Government have decided to issue a proclamation to be gazetted immediately prohibiting the export ot butter without the consent ol the Minister of Customs. The object of the nrohibition is to ensure that there shall bejenough butter retained in New Zealand during the months when supply is less than consumption to suffice for the people of this country. Last year stocks were depleted until butter acquired a scarcity value. If the Minister of Customs exercises his discretion wisely no such state of affairs can occur again. The decision of the Government also is not entirely without bearing upon the recently announced determination of the people who c6ntrol the sale of butter in this country to raise the price to the consumer. The policy of the Government is to allow the price of butter for local consumption to approximate to the export price. The cost of marketing is about 3d per lb., and after deducting this 3d per lb. our retail price of is 6d, is very nearly equal to the return obtainable bv shipping the butter to England.Recently, however, the price of butter has risen in England, and it may be arguable, therefore, that an increase in the local price is justifiable. This, however, is a matter lor the Minister to determine when application is made to him for permission to export.