THE PRICE OF BUTTER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 293, 20 May 1915, Page 8

THE PRICE OF BUTTER.

MAKERS WANT A FAIR TROFIT. (By Wire. —Own Correspondent.) " Wellington, Last Night. The- Government's announcement regarding the prohibition of export, neeius to have stopped the rise in the price of butter, and nothing more is being heard of the predictions that la 9d or la lOd will be charged before the middle of the winter. But the price has not been reduced to an extent that ia appreciable to the housewife, and, as far as one can gather, there is little likelihood of anything being done in that direction in the near future.

The Prime Minister, as Minister of Agriculture, lias already received vigormis complaints from some of the butter factories, which state that if they are not allowed what they regard as a fair profit they will cease the. manufacture of butter and devote their attention to cheese. There seems to be nothing to prevent the factories carrying the threat into effect and so further reducing the limited supply of butter available for the New Zealand consumers. Any interference with the production or thes export of cheese is out of the question, since the War Office is crying out for increased supplies for the troops in the field, and seems able and anxious to buy as much as New Zealand can produce. The drought in Australia is bringing the dairy season there to an early close, and under the circumstances it really seems us though New Zealand pooplc should congratulate themselves if they do not have to pay more for their pound of butter than they are doing to-day.