THE PRICE OF BUTTER.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9539, 16 June 1911, Page 5

THE PRICE OF BUTTER.

"CARRYING COAL TO. NEWCASTLE." '

(Peb Press Association,! WELLINGTON, Juno 15. The statement of certain dairy fao-. Tory authorities that- the retail price of butter would reach Is 6d per lb in the Dominion this winter owing to tho shortage of supplies, caused rather a flutter among some merchant firms, who feared that there was a "ring" in operation to keep up the price of this commodity. In view of the plentiful supplies reported in Australia, where first grade butter during the last few weeks lias been selling on the local market at several pence por lb cheaper than New Zealand manufactured butter, a losal firm cabled an order to Sydney for supplies. The Moeraki on Wednesday brought over 100 cases, now placed in cold storage in Wollington with, a view to the market here' being'testeel with New South. Wales butter; The shipment is of the first grade selling in Sydney at less than lid por lb. Butter of similar quality, cannot, be obtained from the factories here'under Is Id, adding the; 20 per .cent, .duty the imported butter can be sold at Is 2d'per lb retail, : : r^-.-V. "I hear," remarked a city merchant to a. Times reporter to-day, "that the South Island market will be tested with a shipment of butter from Melbourne. The quality of the shipment of New South Wales butter now in Wellington should convince people who talk a lot that just as good butter can ho manufactured in Australia, as in New Zealand." .' A deputation from the .Wellington Trades and Labour Council will , wait on the Hon. . R. McKonzie, ActingMinister of Customs, to-morrow afternoon with a request that butter be : brought within the operations ot. tho prevention of Monopolies Act.