BUTTER PRICES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17955, 6 December 1932, Page 9

BUTTER PRICES

(To the Editor of the Herald.) Sir—l would draw your attention to an interesting situation with regard to butter in this town. The price of New Zealand butter, is falling in but in our bright little town it is rising. Can you explain this very interesting fact? Saturday’s news says “Butter market weak,” and then on Monday morning my butter vendor says “You will have to pay Id per lb. more for your butter today.” The price is down in London and rises in the country where it is grown. This must surely be a peculiarity of Gisborne. This unfortunate town seems to have no luck. The railway was a political chopping block and our interesting transport experiences followed. Qur Government says the cost of living must come down, but Gisborne’s butter appears to have been exempted. One butter factory here has for some time reflected the changes in market values in London, and I should imagine that its local sales have benefited by its policy. Alas, that factory has" cpme into line. When prices are high in London and New Zealand consumers are complaining about the high prices here, then we hear a lot of prating about “London parity,” but when prices are down in London, parity for New Zealand consumers disappears out of sight. If the present price of butter in Gisborne is on London parity, tljerp are many consumers who would take an interest in seeing the figures explained. We are certainly in troublous times, the fanners having, probably, more troubles than others, but artificial boost* ing of prices is not going to help us Thanking you in anticipation for your valuable space.—Yours, etc., .CONSUMER

We are informed that the priqe of Is 51b. which ruled for a short period tveck was the lowest that butter has leached iu Gisborne for a number of years, stud it is pointed out that when it was decided to raise the price Id per lb. the market had l risen 6s per cwt. on the London market, although, of course, the London market price pas again receded. It is also remarked that the New Zealand consumer obtains fresh butter almost direct from the churn, while the New Zealand butter consumed in England lias been frozen lor three months or so before going into .consumption. ,For this reason. Daiusli butter, which is sold fresh without being frozen, commands at present a premium of 3d to 4d per lb. on New Zealand butte/ when retailed. —Editor, Herald.