PRICE OF BUTTER

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 39, 9 November 1917, Page 8

PRICE OF BUTTER

HIGH COMMISSIONER'S COMPLAINT

THE FACTS ANALYSED

Ino cabled statement attributed to. Sir Thomas Mackenzie that the Irish dairy farmers were receiving nearly doube that paid to the New Zealand farmers for butter is not quite a fair presentment of the facts. The High Commissioner said that the New Zealand producers were being paid Is. sd. a pound for butter. That is approximately correct. The price announced as having been offered by the Imperial authorities for tl, e Dominion's output of butter was 1575. per cwt., which is equal to a "raotion less than Is. sd. per pound, but it is understood that if the conditions asked for by the New Zealand producers aie conceded the price will be equivalent to the figure named by Sir Thomas Mackenzie. The price being paid for Irish butter is not doublo this amount, but 2245. per cwt. It is paid for .he butter in England, however, whereas the New Zealand price is for butter in this country. To mako a fair comparison there should be added' to the Now Zealand price some 28s. per cwt. for freight, and at least 4s. per cwt. for incidental expenses, so that the real comparison is between 190s. for New Zealand butter, as against 2245. for Irish. A point to be taken into account also is 'hat the Irish butter is fresh, while the New Zealand butter is salted, and several months old before it reaches the British market. There is a strong preferenco for fresh butter in England, and it will always command a higher price than salted butter. It may bo that the New Zealand producers still have a grievance, but they have not 6iich a big grievance as represented by Sir Thomas Mackenzie.