SHORTAGE OF BUTTER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14708, 16 June 1911, Page 6

SHORTAGE OF BUTTER.

SHIPMENT FROM AUSTRALIA

MARKET TO BE TESTED

[lit TELEGRAPH.PRESS ASSOCIATION.} Wellington, Thursday. The statement of certain daily factory authorities that the retail price of butter would reach Is 6d per lb in the Dominion this winter owing to the shortage of supplies caused rather a flutter among somo 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 has been selling on the local market at several pence per lb cheaper than New Zealand manufactured butter, a local firm cabled an order to Sydney for supplies. The Mocraki on Wednesday brought over 100 cases, now placed in cold storage in Wellington with a view to the market here being tested with New South Wales butter. The shipment is the first grade, telling in Sydney at less than lid per lb. Butter of similar quality cannot be obtained from the factories here under Is Id, and adding the 20 per cent, duty tho imported butter can be sold at Is 2d per lb retail.

"I bear," remarked a city merchant to a reporter to-day, "that life South Island market will bo tested with a shipment of butter from Melbourne. The quality of tho shipment of New South Wales butter now in Wellington should convince people who talk a lot that just as good butter can bo manufactured in Australia as in New Zealand."

A deputation from the Wellington Trades and Labour Council will wait on thb Hon. T. Mackenzie (Acting-Minister for Customs) to-morrow afternoon with a request that butter bo brought within the operations of tho Prevention of Monopolies Act.