SCARCITY OF BUTTER.

Evening Post, Volume LXIV, Issue 44, 20 August 1902, Page 6

SCARCITY OF BUTTER.

INCREASE IN PRICE. Not only have tho expenses of householders been increased by a rise in the price of meat but the price of table butter has also been raised*. Better which was selling last week at Is 2d per lb is now being sold at Is 4d. Enquiries made from butter-dealers go to show that there- is a great scarcity of butter in Wellington, duo to a number of causes. As indicated in the Post •some weeks ago. a descent of agents of English, Australian, and South African dealers was made upon tho colony, and there" was keen competition fbr butter for export. Since that time the drought in Australia has kept up, and advices received from Sydney and Melbourne last week stated that the maikets had been absolutely exhausted. Tho Australians nro now sending urgent messages for parcels of fresh butter from Wellington, and top puce* are being offered. Tho New Zealand centres are' ulko sending to Wellington for supplies, and ono Wellington hou. K o has this seek obtained Is 4d per Hi, f.o.b. Wellington, for odd parcels which have been sent to Chri.stchurch nnd to the West Const. T>ho pressure of demand is likely to continuo throughout this month, Uut will then ense off, as tho new soason opens next month. If tho present fine weather continues , thero will bo a much, readier supply. Tlio pressure from the Australian centres will continue so long as rain holds off in tho butter-making States ol the Commonwealth. Not a fuw housekeepers in Wellington aro now profiting l\v an nrrans^mofnt made with their dealers by which tlio latter undertook to retail butter to them on an all-tho-year-round order at Is per lb. The price aproed upon under these terms lias, we bolieve, not been affected by tlio present conditions of scarcity.