THE PRICE OF BUTTER.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 2, 3 May 1915, Page 7

THE PRICE OF BUTTER.

i EXPORT TO BE REGULATED. Welington, May 2. The retail price of butter in Wellington lias been raised one penny, to Is 7d. The figures of butter in coot store on April 30th show a shortage of 28,2(30 boxes "compared with last year. It is understood that steps are to be jjikeu by the Government at once to prevent the indiscriminate export of butter from New Zealand, in view )f an insufficient quantity for New Zealand consumption being in sight. “It has come to the knowledge of the Government,” said the Prime Minister to a reporter, “that butter which is ' being exported from New Zealand to the Commonwealth is being used by Australian merchants’ to fulfil contracts made with Java and other places, and the Government is issuing a proclamation immediately, providing that in future butter may be exported from New Zealand only with the consent of the Minister of Customs. This will prevent such transactions as I. have referred to being carried on at a time of scarcity like this. T am advised that the supply of butter in sight in the Dominion is lower than usual, but if it were luit for the shortage in Australia the shortage would apt hf s£ ~.t of butter In the south is being reduced by jlthA .cold "weather having set in rather early this year, but in Taranaki and Auckland T believe that good results are being obtained. Information I have from the Agricultural Department is to the effect that a number of small farmers, instead of folowing the usual practice of allowing their dairy cows to go dry during the cold months, intend to make butter right through the winter. Supplies from this source, if they prove to ho considerable/ bhould relieve the shortage now anticipated in the winter months.” :