WINTER PRICE OF BUTTER.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 165, 6 April 1908, Page 2

WINTER PRICE OF BUTTER.

STORACE IN AUCKLAND. IMPROVED OUTLOOK SINCE THE RAINS. Since the close of the butter export season (telegraphs our Auckland correspondent) there has been a steady storage of butter for local markets during tlio winter. When the exports ceased on March 21 with tho shipment of.loss than one ton for tho fortnight, there wero 7761 boxes or 194 tons held in reserve in cool store at Auckland. In tho past fortnight this reserve has been' added to, till it now totals over 11,500 boxes, or 287J tons. Tho quantity added to reserve during tlie fortnight has thus.been 93} tons, while the local demand in the meantime has been kept well supplied. The margin of output over the demnnd is' notj of course, a very great, one, and it will diminish, but if the rate of- diminution is slow, tho local market will be far better supplied for the winter thansecmed to be possiblo a month ago, and, therefore, there seems to bo no reason for any further increase in price. Tho rain which set in with the opening of March resulted in an abundance of good autumn feed for the dairy herds, and, in cbnsequonco, factories which, at the end of February, oxpcctcd to eloso down in a week or so, aro still able to put out sufficient butter to keep them, going for a few weeks yet. Last year at this time, over 20,000 boxes, or 500 tons, of butter were in cool store, but it wnn not all utilisod during winter, somo of it being exported on the opening of tho following season, and a considerable quantity being sent to Southern markets. Assuming, therefore, that the factories aro able to add another 00 tons, to reserve, the demand locally should bo well met during the months of May, June, July, and August.