A BUTTER RING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15824, 24 July 1913, Page 8

A BUTTER RING.

FURTHER RISE PREDICTED.

(From Odr Own Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, July 23,,

Butter and its present high price were the subject of some discussion in the House to-day. In the course of the debate Mr Russell predicted that in the near future, because of the export commitments made, the price of butter here would rse to la 6d per lb. The first mention was made by Mr C. K. Wilson, who inquired if the Government would add butter to the schedule of " The Commercial Trusts Act, 1910." The Prime Minister's reply was as follows: "The Government is not awaxe of a trust operating in fche butter trade. The present high price in the dominion appears to be due to the comparatively 6mall quantity in cold storage, there being only 24,231 boxes on July 15, as against 37,374 on the same date last year. If the honourable member will supply evidence of trust methods in this connection with matter of including butter in the schedule of the Act will receive careful consideration."

Later in the evening the Commercial Trusts Amendment Bill (Mr Payne) was under discussion. This measure aimed at adding bacon, butter, cheese, milk, and eggs to the schedule of' "Tlie Commercial Trusts Act, 1910."

In supporting it Mr Russell said there might 'be a. butter famine in the near future. At present the pricc was Is Si per lb, and he understood that the export commitments were so heavy that in the next few months the price would be found to go Is 6d por lb. He remembered the time when butter was sold at 5d per lb.

Mr Okey: Would yon like that again? Mr Russell: No. I realise that the exnort of butter has raised the price just as the export of mutton has raised the price of meat. At the same time membere would realise that it came "mighty hard" on comparatively poor men to find the price of an article like butter going to Is 6d per lb, as it probably would in the near future. Mr Russell concluded by urging that the House should have a speedy opportunity of thoroughly discussing the cost of living. Sir Walter Buchanan said that in Vancouver, which he recently visited, the price of butter was as high as 2s a pound. A great deal of the butter sold there came from New Zealand, and with a market like that so close to the dominion it was natural that prices here would rise. On the basis of his trip round the world ne would say that the cost of living in NewZealand compared very favourably with that of any other country.