AUCKLAND CONSUMERS REAPING BENEFIT.

Shannon News, 23 January 1925, Page 2

AUCKLAND CONSUMERS REAPING BENEFIT.

A mild butter-war is going on m .Auckland City at the present time. A reduction of one penny a pound sn the price of all grades of butter was made by the New Zealand Co-opera-tive Dairy Company a few days ago. although London prices have be*m continually arming; The prompt casn prices for this company's butter now range from i/« (for choicest) to 1/3 for secondary grade witb. corresponding retail prices of 1/ i and■ 1ATliis reduction came somewhat as a surprise, seeing that these prices are 3id per lb below present day London quotations. I The Opotiki Dairy Association Ltd., which, next to the New Zealand \ Dairy Company is the biggest supplier ot Auckland's butter, in refusing- to i educe its prices makes the following statement: — „„ •In justice to the dairying community, not only of Opotiki, but of the whole province, it is impossible at present for us to follow the lead of another company and give effect to a reduction in the price of butter. The information regarding the e*? 0 ™ market published in Mondays 'Herald" is in keeping with offers received last week by the Opitiki Dairy Association. The present price ot Opotiki butter is 1/52 wholesale ana this figure, with distributing costs considered, shows Id per lb loss upon offers received by our company for butter afloat and 3d per lb loss upon ■to-day's London price. The price m Wellington is 1/7 and that in Christchuich 1/G per lb. "It is our desire always to work in harmony as regards price-fixing with those who are in competition with us, but! if we cannot follow the reasoning for market changes by others, then, in the interests of the company \ve represent, we are bound to make a stand and trust for our company's support to a sense of fairness on tne part of the Auckland public, who liave never evinced a desire to profit at the expense "of the dairying community of this province."

A frost of nearly 5 degrees was registered in Masterton .on Sunday morning.