BUTTER PRICES.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 May 1917, Page 4

BUTTER PRICES.

STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER. By Telegraph.—Press Association. . Wellington, Last Night. Tho Hon. W. G. Maedonald made a statement re the price of butter. He says the Gazette notice issued under the regulations of tile Trade and Commerce Act, on February 15, fixed the maximum prices of butter during the months of February to August inclusive. The maximum wholesale price of butter as sold by manufacturer:!, delivered in box at factory on the usual trade terms, allowed for a farthing storage during the month of March, and one-eighth of a penny during the months of April, May, June and July. Thus the maximum price chargeable at the factory in April was Is 4jd, May Is 4 3-Sd, June Is 4sd, July Is 4 5-Bd, August Is 4sd. The wholesale distributor is allowed a maximum of Id per lb for patting and delivering to the retailer, but to comply with the custom of tlie retail trade, which does not deal in eighths of a penny, the maximum prices the grocer should pay werb fixed: April Is si<i, May and June'ls 5M,d, July and August Is SJd. The retailer was allowed on the whole 2d per lb as the coht of distributing to the public, hut. as the grocer couhl not conveniently collect a farthing from tlie consumer, the board decided he should during April and May receive only Is 7d and during June, July and August Is Bd. Under this arrangement the grocer doing a nornml trade will average slightly over 2d during the period covered, hut the Minister pointed out that it was a breach- of the ordcr-in-council for a grocer during May to elmrge more than Is 7d, and will be a breach to charge more than Is 8d during June, July and August. The public should get the {butter schedule rates. If tlie public would report breaches of the regulations to the board action would be taken to compel compliance with the order. '