NO CHANGE IN BUTTER.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 April 1921, Page 4

NO CHANGE IN BUTTER.

PRESENT PRICE TO CONTINUE. SUBSIDY REDUCED BY HALF. By Telegraph.—Press AssoJatJon. Wellington, Last Night. In reference to the Auckland telegram published to-day stating that grocers are charging 2s 8d a pound for butter, the Board of Trade has taken up the matter, as the margin of profit is far greater than was the case previously. It is stated that Wellington grocers are also notifying a similar increase, and this is being also gone into at once, seeing that no creamery butter made after March 31 has yet come into consumption in the city.

The Director of Agriculture states that the position created by these unduly high retail prices, together with other developments, necessitated further consideration. The whole matter of butter prices has been the subject of discussion between the Government departments concerned and those representatives of the dairy interests available in Wellington to-day. It was thought that the matter could have been settled at once, but circumstances have arisen unexpectedly which make’ this impossible. It is now anticipated that further consideration between representatives of the producers and thtf department will be necessary, and this will probably mean a delay of some, days before the matter can be definite-’ ly settled. In the meantime the price will be Is 'Hid ex factory door, and 2s 3d over the counter for cash. To enable thi&> to be done the Government subsidy of 3d per lb will be paid on all butter sold complying with these conditions, and for immediate sale. It is hoped a' further and final announcement wijl be' made before the end of next week.

ACTION BY THE GROCERS.

DECISION TO INCREASE PRICE. The decision of the New Plymouth grocers yesterday to increase the price of butter on the lines of the proposed advances in other towns will be dissolved by the announcement from Wellington, and the old pricea will prevail to-day. Assuming the end of the subsidy, the wholesale quotation yesterday was reported at about 2s 4d a lb and the grocers decided to increase their prices from 2s 3d to 2s 7d cast and 2s 4d to 2s 8d booked.

POSITION IN ENGLAND.

GOVERNMENT STOCKS CHEAPER. By Telegraph.—Press Assn —Copyright. London, March 31 The Food Ministry has reduced tha’* selling price of its stocks of butter for a fortnight from to-morrow. New Zealand first and second grades are quoted at 2625, Australian do. 2445, Argentine 2405, Australian third grade 2125. It is expected that plenty of good butter will be retailed at 2s 31 to 2s (id per lb. White cheese is easier on large arrivals from New Zealand at 1425, Australian 1.366 to 140 s. Colored scarce and unchanged.