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New Zealand Tablet, 29 April 1915, Page 29

In order to relieve the scarcity and consequent high prices in Wellington, big shipments of eggs from America have been arriving of late (says the Post). The Moana, which arrived- from San Francisco, brought 1144 cases. . The Prime Minister, in reply to a query by a reporter a few days ago, said with regard to the price of butter:—‘ Ido not intend to anticipate any evidence that may be submitted to the commission, but I may point out that the increase in the price of butter, about which many suggestions have been made, is not so easily dealt with as many people imagine. The reasons for the increase' are the price of cheese, which is in strong demand for army purposes, and along with that the drought in Australia, which has . caused a very unusual demand - from the Commonwealth. The suggestion has been made that the Government should prohibit the export of butter. This would be an extreme step, though wo find it necessary, in the case of wheat and oats. My experts tell me that at present prices the making of cheese pays the producer better than the making of butter, and wo certainly cannot stop the export of cheese, because more is wanted for the army than we are able to supply, so that so far as the wholesale prices are concerned the price of the one article will to a certain extent govern the ; price and output of the other. I am not expressing any opinion about the retail price, which is, a matter for the commission, and I have no doubt that will be thoroughly looked into,’