PRICE OF BUTTER. MAY STILL INCREASE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 41, 18 February 1908, Page 8

PRICE OF BUTTER. MAY STILL INCREASE.

The local butter market is in a parlous state. Factory butter is being retailed at Is 4d per lb, and it may go to half-a-crown, nearly double the present high price ; that, at any rate, is the opinion of a gentleman in the wholesale trade. "If," he said, "rain falls in sufficient quantities in Taranaki then the price will ultimately drop; but I have been doing what I have never done since we started : refusing orders for butter. It simply is not available. The whole question resolves itself into a matter of supply and demand. At the present time there is enough to satisfy the local demand, providing tho consumption is not increased." "And then?" asked a representative of The E\ening Post. "Well, if the consumption is not re.duced — reduced, mind you — it's an absolute certainty that there will not be .enough to go round, that's all; and the price will go up to 2s per lb, or even 2s 6d. Factories are making so little now— in fact, 40 per cent, less than they made this time last year." - The butter factor was sounded upon the effect that the scarcity of butter 's likely to have upon jams and golden syrups. "I do not think they will rise in price. They should not, for the consumer of jams, and lollies, too, for that matter, has gained nothing by tho reduction of the sugar duty, except apon sugar itself. The reduction has been a bonus to the jam and confectionery trades, so that I do not think any increased consumption of butter substitutes should cause them to rise in price. People with families cannot, at the present and prospective prices, allow children to butter their bread as thej have been doing with the very finest creamery butter, when it was Is or Is Id per lb. For their own protection housekeepers mast curtail their consumption of butter, otherwise, in view of the continuance of dry weather, the present high price must be materially enhanced. There's no help for it. In any case, I think lam safe in baying that there will be no advance upon Is 4d per lb for this week."