DAIRY PRODUCE AND ITS PRICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9323, 28 March 1889, Page 5

DAIRY PRODUCE AND ITS PRICE.

The dairy people have a grievance. Complaint® are often mado to us of tho treatment which they receive at tho hands of the Grocers' Association. What tho farmer cannob understand is how and on what principle tho prices which are fixed as current rates for their commodities by the Grocers' Association are arrived at. Three weeks ago, and throe days before Lent began, thegrocera reduced the price of eggs wholesale from lOd to Sd. In the face of the comparative scarcity daring the moulting season, and the largely-increasod demand and better prices which Lent always brings, farmers want to know why is this thus. They are inclined to question either the ability or the will of the committee to act in a busi-ness-like or honest manner. Some explanation is needed to disabuse their minds. The present grievance is the price quoted wholesale for butter. Good butter is scarce at present; a really good articlo is always scarce. There is also an outside market to be supplied. Factories, which are in tho hands of people who are able to caro for themselves, refuse to sell for less than Is per lb, and grocers are buying considerable quantities at this price, and yet the last quotation given by the grocers' committee is 7d. Possibly Id is enough to give for much of the butter which is made ; but, unfortunately for the farmer, this does not represent the price which he has to take for his failures. One case has been reported to us where a fairly good sample was credited for to its Kaipara maker at 4d, and even this small price had to bear the expenses of the freight of tho parcel, etc., so that the nott sum to be received would not exceed 3d per lb. It is understood that the grocers' quotation is for good dairies only. It is now the end of March, practically the beginning of winter. Owing to the dryness of tho last two months feed is scarce. The butter being made has shrunk to one-half of the summer supply. Large exports are being made weekly—the New Zealand Dairy Association sending away ovor two tons daily for some time past— yet the grocers say butter is worth only 7d per lb wholesale. Tho farmers ask why is this. Will somebody please answer them ?