BUTTER CONTROL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23545, 4 January 1940, Page 3

BUTTER CONTROL

PRICES IN BRITAIN NO INDIVIDUAL BRANDS (Received January 3, 5.46 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 3 A regulation is to bo enforced on January 8 to maintain the retail price of butter at Is 7(1 per lb. It lias been decided that all butter will be known as "national butter," which are the only t\\;o words permissible on wrappers after February 1. An announcement of the pooling and blending of the nation's stocks of butter which have been purchased at fixed prices was made by the British wartime Minister of Food, Mr. W. S. Morrison, at the end of September. Maximum prices applicable to all kinds of butter were then determined as follows: —First-hand price ex store, 145s per cwt.; retail price, Is 7d per lb. Where butter is delivered in rolls, bricks, or packets to a retailer, a charge not exceeding 6s per cwt. was allowed to be added to the price charged the retailer; in all cases the maximum retail price was to romain at Is 7d per lb. This price replaced an earlier order which fixed prices at Is 5d per lb. for home-produced and certain foreign butter and Is 7d per lb. for Empire and Dutch butter. All bulk stocks in Britain Avere taken over at the same time. Prior to these orders New Zealand carried on an active publicity campaign in Britain and marketed butter under its own brand. — _ V SUPPLY OF CARS BRITAIN'S BTG EFFORT MAINTENANCE, OF EXPORTS OFFICIAL WARTIME PLAN [fiio.m our own corrkspondkxt] LONDON, Dec. 12 Conferences between motor manufacturers, the Ministry of Supply and the Board of Trade have resulted in a plan to increase the export-of British motor-cars and commercial vehicles all over the world, and especially to secure a share in the now eliminated sea-borne export markets of Germany, which last year traded 78,000 vehicles out of the Reich. Already since war began Britain iias sent overseas an average of nearly 1000 vehicles a week.' Under the now scheme a detailed arrangement for supplies of basic materials has been officially planned for at least 12 months ahead, and manufacturers have already started to draw up future production schedules. New Zealand Demand New Zealand's demand for British vehicles will be a vital factor in the wartime production regime. While it is realised that New Zealand may not bo able to maintain the peak demands of 1936-38, representing 15,000 to 20,000 vehicles a year, every order will help to ease the economic situation of an industry which, having lost much of its basic home demand, will be straining every nerve to maintain export trade. Already 60 per cent of New Zealand's motor trade and industry depends on supplies of British vehicles, and manufacturers are fully prepared for this proportion to be increased. "Our overseas customers are now assured of supplies both of cars and commercial vehicles, the arrangements being on the basis that export orders shall be fully met. The export interests of the motor industry are therefore safeguarded to the utmost possible under present conditions," said Mr. \Y. E. Bootes, president .of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, speaking for a British industry whose direct annual contribution from all sources to the nation's economic life is estimated at £'500,000,000. Expansion of Shipments One-fifth of all British vehicles produced were regularly exported, but this proportion will be increased to 50 per cent during the war. Including parts and accessories, the pre-war annual value of British motor exports .was £20,000,000. Since 1937 the annual export figure of 100,000 vehicles has been reached. The total elimination of Germany's sea-borne export trade is capable of exceptionally favourable reactions for British mptor manufacturers, because competition was largely in the light car class, in which British pre-eminence is acknowledged throughout the world. Figures for 1938 show that Australia, which took 27,722 cars, was Britain's best customer. • New 'Zealand, with 15,015, was next, then came Eire 5973, and South Africa fourth, with 4925. During the same year Germany exported 672 cars to Australia, 173 to New Zealand, 129 to Eire and 2700 to South Africa.

PEAS FOR CANNING WAIROA POSSIBILITIES The value of a sideline such as the growing of canning peas to the Wairoa district was stressed by Sir. R. P. Hill,' fields instructor in Northern Hawke's. Bay. There are some hundreds of acres of alluvial river flat in the northern district that should be excellent for the growing: of peas, . Mr. Hill said. The crop should be well adapted for cultivation on some of the smaller native holdings, and with the largo Maori population in the district the supply of labour for picking the crop should not present a major problem. There is more cropping beiny carried out this year in the Wairoa district than there has been at any other stage in its history.

EAST COAST SHEEP MOVEMENT TO WAIKATO fBY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT*] ' ■ GISBORNE. Wednesday Arrangements are being made for the commencjoment of the main movement of sheep from the Gisborne and Fast Coast districts to* the Waikato and by the end of the week some big jnobs are to be on the road. Gisborne sheep are expected to follow both the Motu and the Waioeka routes, but no doubt the earlier mobs will take the former in order to avoid traffic. There is an abundance of feed on the roadsides at present and the earlier mobs at least should reach the railhead in good condition. The number going north should bo up to last year's total, or perhaps larger, for agents report that substantial forward sales have been made.

NEW YORK TURNOVER NEW YORK, Jan. 2 Turnover on the Now York Stork Exchange to-day totalled 580,000 stocks and bhares.