BUTTER PRICES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 12082, 19 June 1920, Page 5

BUTTER PRICES.

Per Press Association. NEW PLYMOUTH, "Last Night. In commenting upon a message from London, stating that the Imperial Government was prepared to negotiate for the exportable surplus of butter from New Zealand until March 31st, 1921, similar to previous Mr Morton, chairman of the National Dairy Association, stated to a "Daily News" reporter "to-night that he interpreted the message as an indication that the British Government intended to continue the commandeer until the date mentioned. "Previously," added Mr Morton, "the Food Ministry was divided in opinion as to whether or not they should continue the control or to decontrol the price of butter, and it now appeared that they had reached the decision not to decontrol prices. To do this the British Government must import butter themselves, which meant that the commandeer would continue as long as the control lasted and producers would, be unable to sell in the open market." Mr Morton anticipated that New Zealand butter would be sold for 3/ in England, and 2/3 per lb would be netted to dairy factories.

Regarding the local market, Mr j Morton said Mr Massey had given an i assurance that producers would re- i ceive a price equal to the export value ' of their produce, which, in this case, I would be about 2/3. j INTERESTING SIDELIGHTS. | I Writing on 11th May, "The Post's" London correspondent describes the Imperial authorities as adamant in their refusal to decontrol imported ] butter. "Representatives in London I of Dominion producers want to know j why the people whose interests they j have looked after in this country j should be treated differently from i producers in England and Ireland, j The Government are understood to be maintaining their control of overseas butter, as they foresee labour trouble if it becomes decontrolled and is soloV at the higher prices which are still t being made by English and Irish | creameries, and they refuse to allow ; imports of butter from any source on j private account. The Government authorities maintain that they must handle the butter themselves, and they say: 'We cannot control the local price without rationing the butter. To ration it, we must own it. Lots of people would get no butter at all if i it were not rationed and sold at a fixed j price. The price is going to be controlled, and to ration it we must own | it.' On the best authority it is stated j that the Government is now prepared j to pay New Zealand a price equal to i that given to Continental countries, ; and it is expected that such price will , be equal to the retail price, less all the ■ charges. Much of the Irish and Eng- ; lish butter that was decontrolled some : months ago sold at 4/ and 5/ per lb; : but during the last fortnight, at about j twenty different markets, the price ! has come down to 3/9, and more re- ; cently to 3/4 Jd per lb. ,The control price of New Zealand butter is 3/ per ; lb retail. At the present time Great ; Britain is paying Denmark 270/ per i cwt, c.i.f., but there is an idea that it , will not be long before a higher price | is paid to Denmark, ©and naturally i those who look after New Zealand in- ; terests here want tp guard against : what they consider unfair treatment of this kind. The price of 270/ has been offered to Denmark for a period ; of two months —hence the suspicion, j It is maintained arid rightly—that the , British Government should buy from j Denmark at a fixed price for the whole season, as it proposes doing from New Zealand, so that there shall be equality of treatment. Foresight suggests that after two months the Danes may demand a higher price, and get it. This would be manifestly unfair to New Zealand, should, prior to this, the price for the latter's produce be fixed" Is 9d PER LB. RETAIL. } A Gazette notice iixss the maximum price of butter at Is 9d per lb, retail. The maximum price of butter sold ia boxes in bulk ex-sc ag or j f. a.b. coastal steamer is to be la 5%d j per lb. These prices are to apply to all butter manufactured duriiig the existing contract with the Imperial Government, terminating on July 31st, 1920, whether sold before or after that date.