Page 3 Advertisements Column 2

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18851, 2 May 1923, Page 3

THE PRICE OF BUTTER. TO THE EDITOB. Sib,— Onco again I return to . the attack on the question of the price of butter, as it does not appear that we are going to sec any reduction 'from the present exorbitant price. From this morning’s issue of the Daily Times I learn that the retail price at Homo has been reduced to Is 6d, with further possible reductions in -view. Whore is the London parity? This w;as a great war-cry when prices were soaring, but is missing when the opposite occurs. Wo are not getting a fair deal from the butter peopte, who are evidently determined to recoup themselves for the low price of their commodity at Homo by maintaining an excessive rate here. 'that it is not good enough. When no less a personage than Mr Justice Frazer gives his opinion that the price of butter should not be so high as it is (as quoted in the Daily Times a. few days ago), it is surely apparent that there is reason for the humble worker to be annoyed. In the course of the last four weeks or so butter has declined nearly 80s per owt., roughly equal to Bjd a lb. At London parity prices, we should bo paying about Is 5d at present, with, further reductions to oome. Apparently, however, the butter magnates are going to bluff their way through a bad period if they can manage it. What a splendidly fair idea London parity is ! On a rising market the New Zealand merchant gleefully puts up his prices as they climb upward in London, but let the branch break, and 10, the New Zealand consumer has still to hang on and pay through the nose I hope that when Mr Massey has won the Oarnaru seat, ho will oome to light and demand a fair deal from the butter merchant for the consumer, and back it up by legislation ■if necessary.—X am, eto., Wohkeb.