RE THE PRICE OF BUTTER AND EGGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5397, 5 March 1879, Page 3

RE THE PRICE OF BUTTER AND EGGS.

TO TU E EDITOR. Stn, —I «m disappointed that the comnvttee, or some of tho twenty d al*rs, calling themselves grocen, have not vinlicatel themselves, and exonerate the rest of the traie who would not join with them in 'Mixing the maiket rates o! butter and ej:gs" from the odium umh-r which th«»y now rest. I doubt not that the object of the meeting was goad. Ami I telieve genuine, but the course pursued was bad ; how much better would the resolution have r*:id had it be«*n for the purpose of the market value instead of " fixing the market rat«'S." for surely that was the real object, to assist a great number of traders who have no idea what t v .o price should be. They rely upon the judgment of others. The convenicuco of having the price fixed would be to them a great Having. First, in timft ; banishing the necessity of running or seeding to some principal trader to ascertain what he. or they ar«i giving for butter this w«*ek. It would be an equal benefit to the producer, saving him the same journey which he imposes upon himself for his own safety. I think that tho committee are wrong in their first attempt to fix tho ptice, viz.: For best fresh butter. Is per lb.; it should have been, 1* 3d, ami the second Is per lb..—if, as Mr. Stevenson h.i 3 said in his reply to " Kast Tauiaki," "that the committee has no desire to lower tho ptice of butter—their ot-ject is more to improve the quality." Now, seeing tho bad stite of the country for feed and water, best fresh butter cannot be produced under Is 34 per lb. who'esile, and making t lie price Is they think to check the unp incipled producer, of which there ar»j no few, wbo. directly that the wholesale prica went up to la 3d, commenced to up salt butter. I will give you nn inhtanco: When tho price was 1< per lb., a faru o makes lO'.bs. per w.ck, fourteen (Uys after-ward-i tho price i* up to Is 3d, and the farmer brings in GOlbs., when the following convocation takes place Trader : How is your gra«s standing this sea-ion 2" Answer; "0, none whatever, all dried up; cattle starving." Trader: " A pity that it ia such a bad season. Have you any cows calving now ?'' Answer: "No. I should think not,—when my cows are all going dry for want of feed ? I don't have half the milk I had three weeks ago. So »n have none at all if this continues." I will leae your imagination lo picture the umbrageous position that the farmer had unwittlngly placed himself in and what fo lowed. > T ow, sir, I think you will agree with mc that it is a pity,—pity it is, that the just should suffer for tho unjust. Mr. Stevenson says, in support of only giving Is, that the price last ye ir, at this time, was only 9d—25 per cent, -ppe irs a great advance—but it cannot stand against a decrease of over 50 per cent, in production. One season cannot be a rule for another. To an "An Old Farmer," re the difference in price between first-class and inferier butter: In the spring of the year butter is of a more even quality, tho price is then below & shilling ; I do not lind it to vary above Id per lb.; when th-s wholesale price is above Is, and below Is 6d, I find it to vary 3d per lb.; and when it Is above Is (3d, I find it to vary, and I give. 4'l per lb. difference. Mr Morrin, in his reply to ,4 E*st Taraaki/' says that ho had nothing to do with the resolution ; he ouly acted ay chairman, and makes a scapegoat of the uufortunate man who is the uofortua ito secretary of such an unfortunate committee. You, who protect the country people's intorest, and would bo sure to be at such an important meeting, will you give the name) of the attendants ; if not, will you kindly give the names of tho commi.tcemeu ? In conclusion, allow mo to assure the poorest farmer that he c*n rest at ease and in safety from any harm that any committee of grocers can launch against him. Produce the quality and you will command the price. Apologising for this length.—l am, &c., Traded,