BUTTER IN ENGLAND

Waikato Times, Volume 92, Issue 14265, 16 January 1920, Page 5

BUTTER IN ENGLAND

RETAIL PRICE INCREASED. THE NEW ZEALAND POSITION. EARLY RISE PROBABLE. A cable received - from England yestordav stated that the control of home-made butter would shortly 1)0 removed in Great Britain, and that tin? retail .price was expected to bo raised to 2s Bd per lb. Asked as to the probable, infect- ot this lifting of control on the New Zealand market, a prominent dairyman, who was spoken to by a Waikato Times representative on the matter this morning, said there was probably an error in the cable. He regarded it as almost certain that the 1 mix rial Government would maintain control of supplies for a considerable time yet, and that it was probably now finding it necessary to raise the retail price from 2s fid to 2s 8d per lb. The retail price in England had been 2s Gd for some years. The work! shortage was exceedingly acute, and it was very unlikely that the control would he lifted for a year or two. The total imports into Great Britain last year were approximately two-thirds loss than in 1914. The only normal supplies were from Australia and New Zealand. The speaker pointed out that the Imperial Government not long ago purchased a big supply in Denmark at 3s per lb, on top of which were to be added shipping and marketing rates. It was obvious, therefore, that a loss was being made, which would be accentuated greatly if New Zealand was to have a free market next year. It is highly probably that an advance will shortly he made in the price of butter in New Zealand. This will almost certainly happen when the producers again secure a free market, as they hope to do at the end of drily. The price of butter in Australia at the present time is Is "Wfash, nnd 2s booked. Aus tra 1.,-Wvd iUutieH' on the open market sells at Id per lb less than the New Zealand product, yet the New Zealand public arc able to purchase the latter at Is 8d per lb. Butter m Canada is selling at 3s 6d. It is quite obvious, therefore, that when the New Zealand producers secure a free market, the Government will be unable to make up the difference between market rates and the present controlled price out of the consolidated revenue, which will mean something like threequarters of a million a year. At present restaurant-keepers and wealthy people who can. well afford to pay the full price are actually securing their supplies at less than the cost of production. which has gone up by leaps and bounds. It appears that New Zealand consumers are getting their iiutter at a far cheaper price than those of any other country in the world.