BUTTER-MAKERS’ PROBLEMS

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2238, 12 February 1921, Page 2

BUTTER-MAKERS’ PROBLEMS

DISCUSSING the position, the \\ellingion Post stiys: Tlie butter-mak-ers' jrrolilem is : Where. will he stand after 3.lst March next? He is receiving from riie Imperial Government to-day (id per lb. free on board; but that purchase ends on the 31st March. It does not look as if it will be -renewed in flie same terms, for the Imperial purchaser has reduced his sedmg price by Id and is losing that amount on every p.oiuid of butter going into consumption. The winter months are still with Britain —the month of diminished Northern Hemisphere butler production, sid yet the market is falling. British retailers with a margin of 4d can well atiord to cut their butter prices by Id or 2d per !b. to eatcli other trade, and the Goveriimeii! butter itsell; is down Id. The future .of the British butter market then is towards easiness. Then there is the great New Zealand question of The local price of butler. If the price falls at Home will the Government abandon its

butter subsidy to concerns supplyin the New Zealand, market, and let the prices find their naturn 1 level, or will it continue some sort of subsidy to cheapen butter for domestic consumption below its value —whatever that may be —for export to other markets? The butter producers are very anxious to have this matter cleared up, before they begin to make arrangements for supplies. The supplies enter into (lie question of production of both butter and cheese, for contracts have to be made long before the season begins for the supply of salt, rennet, vegetable parchment, cheese cloth, butterboxos (formerly lOd each, now 4s), and cheese crates. There are other important matters, too,-connected with costs of production and distribution, such as labour, freight, and .transport, which have to he arranged well before hand by the producing concerns, but about which there is at present much uncertainty, calling for more than usual foresight and caution.