Butter and Butter-fat

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 189, 9 May 1934, Page 11

Butter and Butter-fat

Sir, —I have read many letters in the press regarding the price of butterfat received by the farmers and they claim a losing proposition all round. Why the retail price of butter ranges from 13d. a lb. in Feilding down to lOd. in other large centres is a conundrum to me. Why this great difference of 25 per cent? Farmers’ representatives are appealing to the Government for a bounty on a price returned to suppliers at Gd. a lb. Now look at this! Thirteen pence is paid by the consumer to the retailer in Feilding. One pound of butterfat makes Hlb. of butter (water, salt, casein, etc.l ; this makes 16il. the people pay the retailer i>er pound. Can you tell me. sir. who gets this profit of 10U. between Ihe supplier at Gd. a lb. of butterfat to the factory and the 16d. paid the retailer (over 150 per cent)? Butter is retailed in England at 9d. Add the exchange 25 per cent, and the 25 per cent, of batter from butterfat over the pound and the retailer gets per lb. Another point is to be noted. The dairy-farmer gets his butter from the factory at Sd. for his own home use and this is 60 per cent, less than the public pays the storekeeper. Why have the consumers of this district to pay 25 ner cent, more than some centres considering Feilding is in the centre of the best dairy land in New Zealand and adjacent to the several factories surrounding it. We have heard of complaints from companies in this district because butter was sent, here for sale from long distances? and it is to be hoped that the huge profits will attract them again. At 3d. a lb. difference—£2B per ton—there is a great inducement. —I am. etc.. UNEMPLOYED. Feilding. May 8.