PRICE OF BUTTER.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 137, 10 June 1911, Page 11

PRICE OF BUTTER.

TRADES COUXCIL TAKES ACTION"

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, this day

The price of, butter has been a question much before the public of late, and the declaration that it would further increase, probably unto 1/6 per lb, has been a matter of much concern to the householder. The Wellington Trades and Labour Council has now been moved to take a hand in the question, and at its meeting last night it was decided to set up a deputation to wait on the Minister of Customs and place before him some facts as to the price of the commodity, and to ask him in view of the reported scarcity of the article, and that the price of it is to be increased, to remove for n time the protective duty. This step has been taken by the Trades Council as the result of information possessed by its management committee. Tb« Committee has had forwarded to it a letter from

a Sydney merchant to a loca.l firm which deals largely in butter. The letter states, "I note the firm state of your local butter market. The Australian conditions are certainly very different, and our main difficulty just now is to find the demand at anything approaching fair values to the producer. Ninety-two shillings has been asked in Sydney latterly, but only the very choicest has found buyers for local use. This price is still being asked, but the market is so weak that sellers are offering discount rather than quote lower. A fall, however, must come, as the production is still considerably in excess of local require-. ments. Ln face, too, of London being so ' depressed, factories cannot hope to hang on to present figures much longer. Some hope is being attached to the Coronation j festivities in London to relieve the heavy ' stocks there of colonial, but the general opinion is that values cannot recover to any extent for some time. Victoria is still quoting Od to 10d per lb for best Western, and Brisbane 90/, but first-class quality can be picked up at lower figures. Supplies are showing some shrinkage owing to the colder weather, birt at the same time we continue to have good general ra-ins with moderate temperatures during the day, consequently feed is plentiful, and there is every indication of fair-sized exports i%ht through the winter.

In view of this it is maintained that if the local article is SO scarce that the price is to be increased to almost prohibitive prices, then the Government should •consider the consumers and allow Australian butter in duty free, which would enable it to be retailed at a moderate price-