FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 March 1918, Page 3

FARM AND DAIRY.

THE .PRICE OF HIDES. EFFECT UPON STOCK.

, The new arrangement between the Government and tiie Imperial authorities for the purchase of the hides in the Dominion is already having an effect upon the price of beef in the W.tirarapa, says the Age. It is understood that the new arrangement will come into operation from Thursday next. The price of fat stock this season has been ,f-2 "s Cd per 1001b. This will be reducell almost immediately to £2 ys per 1001b., which will represent £1 per head on a 8001b beast.

SHIPMENT OF CHEESE, NEW BUTTER SCHEME. The terms upon which Canadian cheese will be available for the 1918 season, about to open, are awaited with considerable interest in this country (says an exchange). In connection with cheese, the' Xew Zealand Government has permitted the shipment to the United Kingdom of third grade cheese at a price not exceeding flVjd.

It has been ascertained that the Government is still unable to issue permits for export of butter to countries other than the United Kingdom. The scheme of the Prime Minister for delivery of butter to purchasers for the local market out of stocks in freezing store awaiting e.vport is reported by those !n the trade to be working satisfactorily. The first day 550 boxes wore taken out on the basis of 1575. per ewt. cßsh. It ts expected that the sales will amount to about one thousand boxes a week. In the meantime, practically all the factories hitherto supplying the local market are sending their butter into the stores for export. The butter is withdrawn, as to the bulk of it, by local distributing firms, who pack it for the retail trade.

The Government's arrangements to extent to butter the scheme of supplying retailers from store at the Imperial 1 schedule jyice has worked well during its short experience in Wellington. During the first three days no fewer than 250 boxes pf 501b were sold to retailers at Is 5d per lb. The retail price remains at Is Bd. with a small section of the trade offering butter, not in pats, at Is 7d. It U felt in official circles that in view of tho wholesale price, the ruling retail rate is too high. Wanganui has the benefit of this scheme, as it was threatened with a shortage owing to the producers' decision to stop local supplies. If trouble arises in any other part of the Dominion, the Government is prepared to extend the scheme for purchase from Imperial stocks. Some of the local producers have gone off the market, but it is believed that they have not been unanimous in carrying out thei? threat—Dominion.