COST OF LOCAL SUPPLIES

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160739, 27 August 1920, Page 9

COST OF LOCAL SUPPLIES

(By Telegraph—Special to “Herald”). WELLINGTON, August 26. Members sought to glean information from the Premier to-day about the cost of butter in New Zealand if the producers were able to export at 280s per hundredweight. Mr Massey asid that he had reason to believe that there was sufficient buttef in store to provide for local supplies until October; as a fairly heavy quantity was retained for the winter. He was not yet in a position to say what would be the local retail price next season, but an increase was almost certain. Negotiations with the Imperial Government were not definitely concluded, but, so far as lie could judge, the Imperial Government would be purchasers of New Zealand’s butter export this season. As soon as he knew definitely what they proposed, he would he able to state what the Government would do with the local price. Mr Witty: Will the price be raised on the butter in store? Mr Massey: My own opinion is No. We don’t want to make a profit out of it? Mr Mitchell: Is butte- likely to go to 2s 9d? Mr Massey: I don’t think so.