THE BUTTER MARKET.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXII, Issue 12436, 8 April 1908, Page 5

THE BUTTER MARKET.

(Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, April 7. The Wellington quotation for butter has for some time past been higher than, that ruling in Auckland. The all-round decline of one penny per lb. therefore brings the southern price very little lower than the present quotation here. Some relief was afforded Dy the genial weather conditions which prevailed towards tho end of last month and the production all over the North Island received a considerable stimulant. In the opinion of a gentleman identified with the butter trade in the Auckland province, the reduction, in Wellington was arranged while the full advantage of the increased make was being realised. The brief spell^of favourable weather and consequent improvement in the milk supply also made it appear possible that a reduction might be effected in Auckland, but the sudden cold change of the last few days precludes the likelihood of this being realised. The output will be still further restricted, and as the quantity in cold storage is very small for this time of the year, butter is likely to be in short supply right through the winter. Another well known butter merchant, in referring to the subject, pointed out that the reduction in Wellington only brings the southern price to an equivalent 6i that now ruling in Auckland. The merchant in question anticipates very little change one way or the other in the Auckland quotation. Some alarm, he points out, was occasioned by the fact that 16,000 boxes, which were intended for export, had to be retained in the* Dominion, but after th© bulk of this has been disposed of the market will, in his opinion, settle down. It is impossible to say what the April-May output is going to be, but the cold snap in the Auckland and Taranaki provinces will have a deteriorating■effect.