QUEENSLAND PRICE LOWERED.

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 132, 5 June 1923, Page 7

QUEENSLAND PRICE LOWERED.

tUNITEB PKBSS ASSOCIATION.—COPISIGHT.) (Received sth June, 11.30 a.m.) BRISBANE, This Day. The wholesale price of butter has been reduced from 23 to Is 9d per pound, to meet competition from., the South. [This will refer to competition from Southern States, Victoria and New South Wales. The recent dry weather in other parts of Australia gave Queensland producers their opportunity to charge what were considered in Sydney and Melbourne to be unreasonable prices. Recourse was had to New Zealand, and the trade has now assumed such dimensions that it resulted in the price- of butter being advanced in this country by Id per pound. Advices from Melbourne show that most-of the N«w Zealand butter recently imported has passed 1 out of first hands. More is expected there during the current month. To those not directly concerned with the Melbourne wholesale section of the butter trade, it may be wondered why large supplies of butter were not imported from Queensland when low quotations were lecently submitted by Brisbane sellers. Before Queensland butter was offered at such substantial concessions on the home price in that State, a large quantity had been purchased from time to time, as occasion demanded, and when Melbourne buyers withdrew several parcels were shipped to Melbourne port on consignment. The result has been an accumulation of supplies, but now that these have diminished largely, the market is assuming a steadier tone. But another'factor also told against Queensland. Sellers there have been packing butter in boxes made from timber unsuitable for the purpose, and this has given rise to complaint from tho trade. Melbourne merchants have repeatedly directed attention to this matter, but their efforts io have'the defects remedied have met with opposition. Apparently Queensland does not wan(. to be told that it is at fault in this respect, because it is considered in the Melbourne trade that the shippers nr'e obstinately refusing to accept tho fact that the timber is not of the class required tor butter boxes.]