BUTTER.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 August 1915, Page 4

BUTTER.

EXPORT STILL PROHIBITED^ REGULATION OF PRICK. By Telegraph.—Special to Daily New*. Wellington, Lust Night. The cablegram from Melbourne attributing the fall in the price of butter in that city to the resumption of imports from New Zealand, was brought under the notice of the Prime .Minister L; your correspondent to-day. Mr. Masse'y'said that there appeared io bo a misapprehension regarding the position. The prohibition on the export of butter had not been lifted, as far as New Zealand was concerned, and it was not likely to be removed before (he end of the mouth. No export could take place without tlio consent of the MinUter for Customs, and consent had been given only in the case of two small i-onsignnieiits. "I think that by the end of the month wb shall be able to lift the. prohibition altogether," said Mr. Masscy. "The local supplies will be ample by" that time, and the output will bo Increasing as the various factories come into operation. The price, I believe, will remain higher than it was last season. The price of butter in New Zealand will be reguhted, when normal trading conditions havn been restored, by the price in England,' and the rates there are high. 'Die ratet for cheese, on the other hand, are lower."' Asked if the local price would have to fall to any fixed figure before the prohibition on export was removed, tho Prime Minister said that was not contemplated. There was an actual shortage of butter in New Zealand, and the commodity had a scarcity value in consequence. When the supply had become large enough to cover all local require,incuts, and leave a surplus for export, the price here would be regulated by the price realised in London. There" was bound to be a fall, but the consumer might have to pay rather moro than had been charged in the previous season.