PRICES OF NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE IN BRITAIN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22355, 31 August 1934, Page 10

PRICES OF NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE IN BRITAIN

TO THE LDITOB. * Sre—l should like to ask in your columns why such a big disparity in prices of foodstuffs is permitted between the British and New Zealand consuming public. In your issue for August 27, 1934, a news item appears under “ Conditions in Glasgow.” The prices paid in Glasgow for certain foodstuffs are much lower than those paid for the same commodities in New Zealand. Here follows the comparison:— In Glasgow.—New Zealand butter, /jd to lOd lb; cheese, Cd per lb; eggs, Is Id per dozen. In New Zealand.—New Zealand butter, from lid to Is 2d; cheese, from 8d to lOd; eggs, from Is 3d to Is Od. And for this lastmeutioned commodity, and at the time the letter from the woman in Glasgow was on its way, as high a price as 2s Sd per dozen was being charged in Central Otago. The trade cables also inform us that meat, mutton, pork, and bacon show a like disparity in price. Seeing that only produce of the highest quality is exported and that freezing, transport, shipping, storage, and other charges have to be added, to the productive costs of the articles so exported, whereas in local distribution many of these charges are eliminated, can the Dairy Board er some other reliable authority offer the long overdue explanation such a big difference in prices is permitted to continue against the local consumer? The goods are produced here, and the consuming public of New Zealand are entitled to learn the reason for the disparity in prices.—I am, etc., Consumer. Oturehua, August 29.