THE PRICE OF BUTTER.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 99, 16 June 1911, Page 5

THE PRICE OF BUTTER.

IMPORTATION OF SUPPLIES FROM AUSTRALIA. (Per Press Association.) Wellingf.on ? Juno 15. The statement of certain dairy factory authorities that tho retail pi ice of butter would reach Is 6d per lb. in the Dominion this winter owing to the shortage of supplies caused rather a flutter among merchant firms, who feared that there was a “ring” in operation to keep up tho price of this commodity. In view of the plentiful supplies reported in Australia, whore .irsD grade butter during the last few weeks has been soiling on tho local narket at several pence per pound Reaper than New Zealand manufacjiuod butter, a local firm cabled an irder to Sydney for supplies. The iVlocraki on Wednesday (nought, over -00 cases, which are now placed in cold storage in Wellington, with a > iow to the market here being tested with Now South Wales butter. I’Jio shipment is of the first grade selling in Sydney at less than lid per In. Butter of similar quality cannot bo obtained from tho factories iiore under Is Id per lb. Adding tho 20 per cent, duty tho imported on tier can bo sold at Is 2d per Id. ■etiil. “.I hoar,” remarked a city merchant to a “Times” reporter to-day, “that tho South Island market will be tested with a shipment of butter from Melbourne, better steamship communication existing between the south with Melbourne than Sydney. The quality of the shipment of Now Tnuth Wales butter now in Wellingcon should convince people who talk i lot that just as good butter can )o manufactured in Australia as in New Zealand.” A deputation from the Wellington trades and Labour Council will wait )ii tbe Hon. R. McKenzie, ActingMinister of Customs, to-morrow afternoon, with a request that butter be >rought, within the operations of the Prevention of Monopolies Act.