BUTTER IN LONDON,

Taranaki Daily News, 14 May 1925, Page 8

BUTTER IN LONDON,

ARE STOCKS BEING HELD? LARGE QUANTITY OF COLONIAL. MOVE BY THE MERCHANTS. By Tslsgrank.—Frees Assn. —Copyright. London, May 12. It Is stated that the recent increase in the price of butter by a penny, to Is 9d per lb., was an attempt by wholesale interests to lessen public demand and thus force Australian and New Zealand, particularly New Zealand, producers to release stocks. It Is estimated that New .Zealand is holding half a million cases in the hope of obtaining higher prices. The wholesale dealers threaten a further rise in piYee if it is not released within a week. Meanwhile, in view of the approaching Influx of butter- from Europe, Argentine, Siberia, Ireland and other countries, holders, instead of obtaining Increased prices, may be forced to accept reductions, although the opinions of ths Arutralian and New Zealand officers in Loudon differ, judging from the policies they have adopted. A prominent Australian co-operative official says that Australians and New Zealanders cannot hope to dominate the English market. Domination in Australia and New Zealand, where there are big co-operative companies aided by protection and a sympathetic Government, might be, perhaps, feasible, but it Is utterly ineffective when dealing with a free trade country, an antipathetic Government, and a population of fifty million consumers suffering from an Industrial slump.